Amber McLaughlin | |
---|---|
Born | Scott A. McLaughlin January 13, 1973
Missouri, United States |
Died | January 3, 2023 | (aged 49)
Cause of death | Execution by lethal injection |
Criminal status | Executed |
Conviction(s) |
First degree murder Forcible rape Sexual assault Armed criminal action |
Criminal penalty | Death (2006) |
Details | |
Victims | Beverly Guenther, 45 |
Date | November 20, 2003 |
Amber McLaughlin (January 13, 1973 – January 3, 2023) was an American transgender woman executed in Missouri for the 2003 rape and murder of her ex-girlfriend, Beverly Guenther. At the time of the crime, McLaughlin was living as male; she transitioned from male to female while incarcerated. [1] [2] [3] McLaughlin became the first openly transgender person to be executed in the United States. [4] [5] Her legal name remained her birth name, Scott A. McLaughlin, and she was identified as such in her death warrant and in prison records. [6]
McLaughlin was a registered sex offender because of a 1992 conviction for sexual assault against a 14-year-old girl. [4]
At McLaughlin's 2006 trial, the jury was deadlocked on the issue of the death penalty. [7] In most U.S. states, this would result in a sentence of life imprisonment. However, Missouri is one of only two states (the other being Indiana) in which a judge has the discretion to sentence a defendant to death if the jury is deadlocked on the issue of capital punishment. [8]
In August 2021, McLaughlin's sentence was reinstated by the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. [9] [10] On January 3, 2023, McLaughlin was executed by the state. [11]
McLaughlin – listed in court documents as Scott McLaughlin – had not initiated a legal name change or transition...
Amber McLaughlin | |
---|---|
Born | Scott A. McLaughlin January 13, 1973
Missouri, United States |
Died | January 3, 2023 | (aged 49)
Cause of death | Execution by lethal injection |
Criminal status | Executed |
Conviction(s) |
First degree murder Forcible rape Sexual assault Armed criminal action |
Criminal penalty | Death (2006) |
Details | |
Victims | Beverly Guenther, 45 |
Date | November 20, 2003 |
Amber McLaughlin (January 13, 1973 – January 3, 2023) was an American transgender woman executed in Missouri for the 2003 rape and murder of her ex-girlfriend, Beverly Guenther. At the time of the crime, McLaughlin was living as male; she transitioned from male to female while incarcerated. [1] [2] [3] McLaughlin became the first openly transgender person to be executed in the United States. [4] [5] Her legal name remained her birth name, Scott A. McLaughlin, and she was identified as such in her death warrant and in prison records. [6]
McLaughlin was a registered sex offender because of a 1992 conviction for sexual assault against a 14-year-old girl. [4]
At McLaughlin's 2006 trial, the jury was deadlocked on the issue of the death penalty. [7] In most U.S. states, this would result in a sentence of life imprisonment. However, Missouri is one of only two states (the other being Indiana) in which a judge has the discretion to sentence a defendant to death if the jury is deadlocked on the issue of capital punishment. [8]
In August 2021, McLaughlin's sentence was reinstated by the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. [9] [10] On January 3, 2023, McLaughlin was executed by the state. [11]
McLaughlin – listed in court documents as Scott McLaughlin – had not initiated a legal name change or transition...