A transgender woman convicted of murder was put to death late Tuesday , officials said.
It is the first such execution of a transgender in the United State.
Amber McLaughlin, a 49-year-old transgender individual, passed away at a correctional facility in Bonne Terre, Missouri at around 7 p.m. local time, according to a statement from the state’s prison department.
According to Fox2now, McLaughlin was executed by lethal injection. McLaughlin was the first transgender person to be executed in the United States, as well as the first person to be put to death by capital punishment in America this year.
Who is Amber McLaughlin
Beverly Guenther, aged 45, was killed on November 20, 2003 by McLaughlin, who was subsequently convicted of the crime. Guenther was sexually assaulted and fatally stabbed in St. Louis County. To date, there is no recorded instance of an openly transgender prisoner being put to death in the United States, according to the Death Penalty Information Center, an organization that opposes capital punishment.
In 2003, McLaughlin was found guilty of murdering a former romantic partner in a St. Louis suburb. Prior to transitioning, McLaughlin had stalked the victim to the extent that the victim obtained a restraining order.
What is Capital Punishment?
The death penalty, also known as capital punishment, is a legally authorized form of punishment in the United States for those found guilty of certain crimes. This method of punishment has been a subject of much disagreement and criticism, with some arguing that it is necessary for certain offenses and others stating that it is a cruel and ineffective deterrent to crime. The death penalty is authorized by law in 28 states and is also permitted by federal law in certain circumstances.
First Capital Punishment in United States
The first recorded capital punishment in the United States was held in 1608 in Jamestown, Virginia, when Captain George Kendall was executed by firing squad for espionage on behalf of Spain. The first recorded execution of a convicted criminal in the country took place in 1612, when Daniel Frank was hanged in the Massachusetts Bay Colony for theft. The death penalty has a complicated history in the United States, with varying usage by state and changing approaches over time.
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