Oldest Death-Row Inmate in United States Dies of Natural Causes in Arizona Prison
Categories: News
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| www.csmonitor.com |
Viva Leroy Nash was 94 and had been on death row for more than 20 years.
In 2008, Nash was the subject of a New Times feature titled "Nation's Oldest Death Row Inmate Will Never be Executed." Check it out here.
Turns out we were right.
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| Viva Leroy Nash |
Nash was serving two consecutive life sentences for two murders he committed in Salt Lake City, when he escaped from prison in 1982.
While on the run, Nash shot and killed Gregory West -- owner of a Phoenix coin shop. He was charged with first-degree murder, aggravated assault, and armed robbery. He was sentenced to death in 1983.
The national average cost of detaining a death-row inmate is about $35,000 a year. For anyone keeping score, based on those numbers, Nash cost the state of Arizona about a million dollars before he ultimately kicked the bucket without the help of an executioner's needle.
So much for try 'em and fry 'em.
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