Jerry Givens, who became an anti-death penalty activist after years of serving as Virginia's chief executioner, has died from complications related to Covid-19, his family told CNN. He was 67.
Jerry Givens, who became an anti-death penalty activist after years of serving as Virginia's chief executioner, has died from complications related to Covid-19, his family told CNN.
Givens, 67, passed away on April 13.A lifelong resident of Richmond, Givens served as chief executioner from 1982 to 1999, when he oversaw 62 executions, according to the organization Death Penalty Action, which is part of the anti-capital punishment movement.More of CNN's coronavirus coverage After preparing for an execution that was later stayed, Givens began questioning his role, according to his family."His biggest fear is that at some point he may have executed someone who was innocent," said Abraham Bonowitz, co-founder of Death Penalty Action.Read MoreThe Virginia Department of Corrections did not respond to CNN's request for comment Monday. Givens initially kept his job as executioner a secret, according to his niece, Valerie Travers.
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