Amber McLaughlin
Amber McLaughlin (January 13, 1973 – January 3, 2023) was an American transgender woman executed in Missouri for the 2003 rape and murder of her ex-girlfriend, Beverly Guenther. While incarcerated for the crimes, McLaughlin transitioned from male to female[1] and later became the first openly transgender person to be executed in the United States.[2][3] However, the legal name Scott A. McLaughlin was the name used in the death warrant and in prison records.[4]
McLaughlin was a registered sex offender because of a 1992 conviction for sexual assault against a 14-year-old girl.[2]
At McLaughlin's 2006 trial, the jury was deadlocked on the issue of the death penalty.[5] In most U.S. states, this would result in a sentence of life imprisonment. However, Missouri is one of only two states (the other being Indiana) in which a judge has the discretion to sentence a defendant to death if the jury is deadlocked on the issue of capital punishment.[6]
In August 2021, McLaughlin's sentence was reinstated by the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.[7][8] On January 3, 2023, McLaughlin was executed by the state.[9]
See also
- Isla Bryson case, Scottish rapist who later self-identified as female and was initially placed in women's prison
- Tiffany Scott (prisoner), Scottish sex offender who later self-identified as female and tried to be moved to a women’s prison
- Karen White case, an English rapist who later self-identified as female, was transferred to a women's prison and then sexually assaulted female inmates
- Capital punishment in Missouri
- List of people executed in Missouri
- List of people executed in the United States in 2023
- List of women executed in the United States since 1976
References
- ^
- Riess, Rebekah; Tucker, Emma (December 16, 2022). "Transgender death row inmate set to be executed in January files clemency application with Missouri governor". CNN. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
- "Transgender woman on Missouri's death row asks governor for mercy with execution just days away". CBS News. December 15, 2022. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
- "Missouri Set to Execute Amber McLaughlin on January 3 in First U.S. Execution of a Transgender Person". Death Penalty Information Center. December 27, 2022. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
- Flores, Adolfo (January 3, 2023). "Missouri Executes Transgender Inmate, a First in the U.S." The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023.
Ms. McLaughlin transitioned while on death row.
- ^ a b Padgett, Donald (December 15, 2022). "First U.S. Execution of a Transgender Set in Missouri". The Advocate. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
- ^ Madani, Doha (January 3, 2023). "Amber McLaughlin, the first openly transgender person to be executed in the U.S., dies by lethal injection". NBC News. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
- ^ Andone, Dakin; Vera, Amir (January 3, 2023). "Missouri carries out first known execution of an openly transgender person for 2003 murder". CNN. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
McLaughlin – listed in court documents as Scott McLaughlin – had not initiated a legal name change or transition...
- ^ Lhotka, William C. (November 4, 2006). "With jury divided, judge opts for death sentence for Wright City man". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
- ^ Jones, Ja'han (January 6, 2023). "The disturbing circumstances of Amber McLaughlin's execution". MSNBC.com. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
- ^ Patrick, Robert (August 18, 2021). "Federal appeals court reinstates death penalty in 2003 St. Louis County rape, murder". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
- ^ "McLaughlin v. Precythe, No. 18-3510 (8th Cir. 2021)". Justia Law. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
- ^ Krull, Ryan (January 3, 2023). "Missouri executes transgender woman for murdering her ex-girlfriend in 2003". St. Louis Public Radio.