George Mercer
George Mercer | |
|---|---|
Mugshot of Mercer in 1979 | |
| Born | George C. Mercer August 31, 1944 Missouri, U.S. |
| Died | January 6, 1989 (aged 44) |
| Cause of death | Execution by lethal injection |
| Other names |
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| Conviction | Capital murder |
| Criminal penalty | Death |
George C. "Tiny" Mercer (August 31, 1944 – January 6, 1989) was an American man who was convicted for the rape and murder of 22-year-old Karen Keeton in Belton, Missouri, on August 31, 1978. At the time of the murder, Mercer had a charge pending against him of raping a 17-year-old girl. He was executed at the age of 44 by the state of Missouri by lethal injection. He became the first person to be executed in Missouri since 1965. His execution was carried out in the former gas chamber which was converted to use lethal injection.