Utah judge rules a convicted killer with dementia is competent to be executed
June 6, 2025
A Utah judge has ruled that a convicted killer who developed dementia while on death row for 37 years is competent enough to be executed. Ralph Leroy Menzies was sentenced to die in 1988 for killing mother of three Maurine Hunsaker. Despite his recent cognitive decline, Menzies “consistently and rationally understands” why he is facing execution, Judge Matthew Bates wrote in a court order. Menzies had previously selected a firing squad as his method of execution. He would become only the sixth U.S. prisoner executed by firing squad since 1977. The Utah Attorney General’s Office is expected to file a death warrant soon. Menzies’ lawyers say they plan to appeal the ruling.
