James Hubbard

James Barney Hubbard (March 7, 1930 – August 5, 2004) was an American convicted murderer who was sentenced to death and executed by the U.S. state of Alabama for the 1977 murder of 62-year-old Lillian Montgomery, whom Hubbard had been living with following his release from prison for a separate murder conviction.

On January 10, 1977, then-46-year-old Hubbard called police to report a shooting at Montgomery's home in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, alleging that Montgomery had fatally shot herself. Hubbard, who had previously served a 20-year sentence for a different murder, was subsequently convicted of Montgomery's murder and sentenced to death.

In 2004, more than 27 years after Montgomery's murder, Hubbard was executed by lethal injection. At the age of 74, he was the oldest person to be executed in the United States in decades.

Background In 1957, Hubbard was sentenced to 50 years in prison following his second-degree murder conviction in the death of David Dockery in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, after his claim of self-defense was rejected. Hubbard was released on parole 19 years later in October 1976. He moved into the home of 62-year-old storeowner Lillian Montgomery, who had befriended and sponsored Hubbard to gain his release.

Murder In January 1977, Hubbard shot Montgomery three times and robbed her of her gold and diamond wristwatch, along with about $500 in cash and checks. Hubbard subsequently called police and reported that he had been drinking whiskey with Montgomery, who fatally shot herself. Montgomery died as a result of three gunshot wounds—one each to the face, head, and shoulder. Nitrate tests revealed a small amount of gunpowder residue on both of Hubbard's hands, as well as on Montgomery's right hand.

The Supreme Court denied a stay of execution in a 5–4 ruling, and Alabama Governor Bob Riley rejected a request to commute Hubbard's sentence to life in prison, stating: "Justice has not been swift in this case, but justice must be delivered."

Hubbard's last meal was two eggs over-medium, four pieces of bacon, sliced tomatoes, fried green tomatoes, pineapple slices with mayonnaise, white bread, a banana, and a medium-sized V8. as well as the oldest inmate to be executed in the U.S. since the execution of 76-year-old James Stephens of Colorado in 1941.