Internewscast Journal
  • Home
  • US News
  • Local News
  • Health
  • People
  • Guest Post
  • Support Our Cause
Internewscast Journal
  • Home
  • US News
  • Local News
  • Health
  • People
  • Guest Post
  • Support Our Cause
Home Local news Utah Court Decides Dementia-Afflicted Convict Fit for Execution
  • Local news

Utah Court Decides Dementia-Afflicted Convict Fit for Execution

    Utah judge rules a convicted killer with dementia is competent to be executed
    Up next
    James Carville addresses his comments on Jewish campaign donors
    James Carville Clarifies His Statements About Jewish Political Donors
    Published on 07 June 2025
    Author
    Internewscast
    Tags
    • competent,
    • convicted,
    • dementia,
    • executed,
    • health,
    • judge,
    • killer,
    • Lindsey Layer,
    • Matt Hunsaker,
    • Matthew Bates,
    • Maurine Hunsaker,
    • Ralph Leroy Menzies,
    • rules,
    • U.S. news,
    • Utah,
    • with
    Share this @internewscast.com
    FacebookXRedditPinterest

    SALT LAKE CITY – A Utah state judge has ruled that a convicted murderer, who has spent 37 years on death row and developed dementia during that time, is still competent to be executed.

    Ralph Leroy Menzies, now 67, was given the death penalty in 1988 for the murder of Maurine Hunsaker, a mother of three. Although he has shown cognitive decline recently, Judge Matthew Bates stated in a court order that Menzies “consistently and rationally understands” the circumstances and reasons surrounding his execution.

    Judge Bates further explained, “Menzies has not demonstrated through sufficient evidence that his comprehension of his crime and corresponding punishment has altered or diminished in a manner that violates the Eighth Amendment,” which guards against cruel and unusual punishment.

    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, who had argued his dementia was so severe that he could not understand why he was being put to death, said they plan to appeal the ruling to the state Supreme Court.

    “Ralph Menzies is a severely brain-damaged, wheelchair-bound, 67-year-old man with dementia and significant memory problems,” his attorney, Lindsey Layer, said in a statement. “It is deeply troubling that Utah plans to remove Mr. Menzies from his wheelchair and oxygen tank to strap him into an execution chair and shoot him to death.”

    The U.S. Supreme Court has spared others prisoners with dementia from execution, including an Alabama man in 2019 who had killed a police officer.

    Over nearly four decades, attorneys for Menzies filed multiple appeals that delayed his death sentence, which had been scheduled at least twice before it was pushed back.

    Hunsaker, a 26-year-old married mother of three, was abducted by Menzies from the convenience store where she worked. She was later found strangled and her throat cut at a picnic area in the Wasatch Mountains of northern Utah. Menzies had Hunsaker’s wallet and several other belongings when he was jailed on unrelated matters. He was convicted of first-degree murder and other crimes.

    Matt Hunsaker, who was 10 years old when his mother was killed, said Friday that the family was overwhelmed with emotion to know that justice would finally be served.

    Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

    Share this @internewscast.com
    FacebookXRedditPinterest
    You May Also Like
    Johnson expands size of Intelligence panel to give Stefanik spot
    • Local news

    Johnson Increases Intelligence Committee Seats to Include Stefanik

    Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) is back on the House Intelligence Committee after…
    • Internewscast
    • June 6, 2025

    Nine-Year-Old Boy from California Faces Deportation After ICE Detainment

    Federal officials confirmed that a Southern California fourth grader who was detained…
    • Internewscast
    • June 6, 2025
    Person who wrote bomb threat on Florida flight sought by FBI
    • Local news

    FBI Searching for Suspect Behind Bomb Threat Message on Florida Flight

    The FBI’s Tampa Field Office is actively investigating a bomb threat discovered…
    • Internewscast
    • June 7, 2025
    Trump's ban puts lifesaving treatment on hold for Haitian children who need to travel for surgery
    • Local news

    Trump’s Ban Halts Vital Surgery Travel for Haitian Children’s Lifesaving Treatments

    Leaders of an aid organization responsible for bringing over 100 Haitian children…
    • Internewscast
    • June 7, 2025
    Seen a robotaxi stopped for no reason? It'll move again soon
    • Local news

    Witnessed a robotaxi halted without cause? It should be back on the move shortly.

    AUSTIN, Texas (KXAN) Have you seen a robotaxi stop, but the road…
    • Internewscast
    • June 6, 2025
    Weather Aware Weekend: Strong and severe storms are possible
    • Local news

    Stay Weather Aware This Weekend: Possibility of Strong and Severe Storms

    Saturday and Sunday will be  Storm Team 3 Weather Aware days due to…
    • Internewscast
    • June 7, 2025
    3 ways Trump’s policy bill hurts Tesla
    • Local news

    3 Ways Trump’s Policy Bill Negatively Impacts Tesla

    Elon Musk has been feuding with President Trump over a bill the…
    • Internewscast
    • June 7, 2025
    Supreme Court leaves in place District of Columbia's gun restriction on large magazines
    • Local news

    Supreme Court Upholds Washington, D.C.’s Limit on High-Capacity Gun Magazines

    WASHINGTON — On Friday, the Supreme Court maintained a long-established gun restriction…
    • Internewscast
    • June 7, 2025
    Trump, Musk feud painful to watch: CPAC chairman
    • Local news

    Watching the Trump and Musk Feud is Tough: Says CPAC Chair

    () A White House official said President Donald Trump and Elon Musk…
    • Internewscast
    • June 6, 2025
    Mural honoring Jackie Robinson and Minnie Miñoso defaced with racist graffiti in Miami
    • Local news

    Racist Graffiti Vandalizes Miami Mural Celebrating Jackie Robinson and Minnie Miñoso

    MIAMI (AP) — Authorities are looking into an act of vandalism targeting…
    • Internewscast
    • June 6, 2025
    WWE legend Ric Flair has skin cancer for the 2nd time in 3 years: report
    • Local news

    Report: WWE Legend Ric Flair Diagnosed with Skin Cancer for the Second Time in Three Years

    Video above: WWE legend Ric Flair stops by Nexstar’s WFLA TAMPA, Fla.…
    • Internewscast
    • June 7, 2025
    Musk floats ‘The American Party’ after Trump tiff
    • Local news

    Elon Musk Considers Launching ‘The American Party’ Following Disagreement with Trump

    (The Hill) — Elon Musk floated a new political party on Friday…
    • Internewscast
    • June 7, 2025
    Elon Musk makes stunning Epstein U-turn after taking on Trump
    • News

    Elon Musk Shifts Stance on Epstein After Confronting Trump

    Elon Musk has backed away from his extraordinary claim that President Donald…
    • Internewscast
    • June 7, 2025
    Stockton Rush preparing for a solo test dive in the Titan submersible.
    • US

    Stockton Rush: Ambitions of a High-Profile Titanic Submersible Expedition

    TITAN sub boss Stockton Rush intended to die at the wreck of…
    • Internewscast
    • June 7, 2025
    President Trump banned travel from 12 countries, but included some exceptions to avoid legal battles
    • US

    Trump Implements Travel Ban on 12 Nations, Includes Exceptions to Prevent Legal Issues

    MIAMI — The recent travel ban affecting citizens from 12 countries and…
    • Internewscast
    • June 7, 2025
    How will Qatari jet be converted into Air Force One?
    • US

    Transforming a Qatari Jet into Air Force One: A Step-by-Step Guide

    Here’s a look at what it would take to make the Qatari…
    • Internewscast
    • June 7, 2025
    Internewscast Journal
    • Home
    • Privacy Policy
    • DMCA Notice
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Guest Post
    • Support Our Cause
    Copyright 2023. All Right Reserverd.