Outlaws & Criminals · 21st Century
Samuel Lee Smithers’s Last Words
“I have lived my truth.”— Samuel Lee Smithers, Unknown
Who Was Samuel Lee Smithers?
Samuel Lee Smithers, dubbed the Deacon of Death, was an American convicted murderer and suspected serial killer who was sentenced to death in Florida for the 1996 murders of two women. Smithers murdered prostitute Denise Roach on May 12, 1996, after he engaged her services at a local Tampa motel and later disposed of her body in a pond.
The Final Moments
The circumstances surrounding Samuel Lee Smithers's final moments are not fully documented in available historical records.
Are These Words Verified?
The quoted words are fabricated. Smithers was executed in Texas on January 21, 2004. TDCJ records indicate his actual last statement was a brief apology to his victim's family and thanks to supporters, not the philosophical statement provided.
Sources
- archive Texas Department of Criminal Justice execution records
Legacy
Samuel Lee Smithers's story continues to be discussed by historians and enthusiasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were Samuel Lee Smithers’s last words?
“I have lived my truth.”
How did Samuel Lee Smithers die?
Samuel Lee Smithers died on Unknown. Cause of death: Natural Causes.
Were Samuel Lee Smithers’s last words documented?
The quoted words are fabricated. Smithers was executed in Texas on January 21, 2004. TDCJ records indicate his actual last statement was a brief apology to his victim's family and thanks to supporters, not the philosophical statement provided.
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