James Dupree Henry

James Dupree Henry (January 17, 1950 – September 20, 1984) was an American criminal who was executed in Florida for the murder of civil rights leader Zellie Riley. Henry slashed Riley's throat during a robbery in Orlando on March 23, 1974. He also shot and almost killed Orlando detective Ronald E. Ferguson during his arrest five days later. Civil rights leaders Jesse Jackson and Coretta Scott King, along with the victim's son William Riley, advocated on behalf of Henry to stop his execution. Nonetheless, Henry was executed in the electric chair in September 1984.

Early life James Dupree Henry was born in Orlando on January 17, 1950. Growing up, he shifted among family members, and in later years said he was unsure as to whether or not he had any siblings. It was not until his murder conviction that he met his real mother.

Henry had prior convictions for aggravated assault and aggravated battery In 1965, when he was 15 years old, he stabbed a 19-year-old man in Orlando's west side. He claimed the man was trying to rob him, but was sent to the boy's reformatory in Marianna, Florida, for a few months. was a prominent civil rights leader in Orlando. Born in Georgia in 1892, he moved to the Orlando area in 1920, and became a member of the Mount Olive A.M.E. Church. In 1950, he founded the Orlando Negro Chamber of Commerce (now known as the African American Chamber of Commerce). He also was behind several other projects to alter the view of African Americans of Orlando, such as a community center in Washington Shores. After his death, Z.L. Riley Park was opened in the neighborhood of Parramore.

Murder On Saturday, March 23, 1974, Henry broke into Riley's home at 422 Sunset Drive. Henry, who had planned a robbery, attacked Riley, who was 81 years old at the time. Henry bound Riley, gagged him, slashed his throat open with a razor, then viciously beat him with his fists and a gun. After the attack Henry scoured the house and stole multiple valuables, including $64 of Riley's personal money. Riley was buried at Washington Park Cemetery.

On March 28, 1974, Ronald Eugene Ferguson, an award-winning Orlando detective, approached Henry to question him about the murder. Once confronted about the fingerprint information, Henry attacked Ferguson and stole his gun. He then demanded Ferguson to get away from him, but when he refused he shot Ferguson once in the upper chest and the lower right abdomen. Henry continued to beat Ferguson until backup arrived, and Henry was arrested. Ferguson was rushed to the hospital where he was treated for critical injuries, but ultimately made a full recovery. He was housed at Florida State Prison to await his execution. He was first scheduled to be executed on December 6, 1979, after Florida governor Bob Graham signed to approve the execution.

As Henry's scheduled execution date approached, William Riley, Zellie Riley's son, who was a taxi service owner in Orlando, publicly stated that his father "loved peace and despised vengeance", and that he did not want Henry to be executed; "This is not the way, a life for a life. My father taught me God gave life and only God can take life. We suffered as a family when he died, and we ask you not to add to our suffering by killing James Dupree Henry". In 1981, a federal court ruled that Henry would have to be re-sentenced by a new jury. This was due to the testimony of Ferguson in Henry's trial, which the court ruled should not have been allowed. In September 1984, Graham received letters from civil rights advocates Jesse Jackson and Coretta Scott King, begging the governor to grant clemency for Henry. Jackson presented Graham a note King had written which stated, "it saddens me to learn that the state of Florida is about to execute Mr. Henry despite the pleas of the victim's family and his community". In his final statement to the media, Henry stated that he felt innocent; "My final words are, I am innocent". Following that, at 7 a.m., Henry was executed by the electric chair.