The Electric Chair Execution the Public Was Never Meant to Hear | Wilbert Lee Evans

On the night of October 17th, 1990 at 10:00 p.m., the state of Virginia prepared to execute convicted murderer Wilbert Lee Evans. Prison officials [music] strapped him into the electric chair, securing his arms, wrists, waist, and legs with thick leather restraints. >> [music] >> They then placed an electrode on top of his head covered with a seawater soaked sponge to help conduct the electricity, and finally fitted a mask over his face.

At 10:50 p.m., [music] the executioner threw the switch sending a powerful surge of electricity through Evans’ body. But, something went terribly wrong. Instead of dying instantly, Evans remained alive. Blood began pouring from beneath the mask soaking his neck and chest as he groaned in agony. He remained conscious for nearly 10 minutes before officials decided to administer [music] a second electric shock.

Only then was he finally pronounced [music] dead. What makes this case even more disturbing is that 33 years after Wilbert Lee Evans’ execution, a never-before-heard recording of the execution was leaked. But, that wasn’t all. The recording was part of a collection of four audio tapes documenting executions carried out in Virginia between 1987 and 1990.

Along with the tapes, dozens of previously unseen documents were also released, as well as never-before-published photographs of the condemned inmates taken just hours before they were executed. In this video, I’ll show you the complete recording of Evans’ execution, the leaked photographs, and all the previously unreleased material related to his case.

But, before we get to that, we need to go back to the beginning. What crime did Wilbert Lee Evans commit that ultimately landed him in the electric chair? On the morning of January 27th, 1981, at the Alexandria Correctional Facility in Virginia, Wilbert Lee Evans was in custody, serving time for robbery and assault.

He was being transported from the North Carolina prison system back to Virginia. The officer in charge of the transfer was Deputy Sheriff William Gene Truesdale. As the two rode together in the transport vehicle, Evans waited for the right moment to make his move. When Truesdale came within reach, Evans suddenly sprang to his feet and a violent struggle broke out.

At first, Evans tried to escape through the vehicle’s door, but the deputy stopped him. During the fight, however, Evans managed to wrestle away Truesdale’s service weapon and fired a single point-blank shot into his chest. The wound was fatal. After the shooting, Evans jumped out of the transport vehicle and fled on foot.

A manhunt began immediately, and after authorities quickly sealed off the area, he was captured just minutes later. Wilbert Lee Evans’ trial began in April 1981, only 3 months after he murdered a Deputy Sheriff during his escape attempt. On April [music] 18th, he was found guilty, and on June 1st of that same year, the judge formally sentenced him to death.

Evans spent the next 9 years on death row, >> [music] >> filing appeal after appeal in the hope of avoiding execution. But every one of his appeals was denied. Finally, on [music] October 17th, 1990, the moment I described at the beginning of this video arrived. Wilbert Lee Evans was led to the electric chair to carry out his death sentence.

But before I play the full recording of his execution, there’s one question that needs to be answered. How were these recordings leaked? To answer that, we have to go back to the summer of 2006. An 82-year-old man, who was in the final days of his life insisted on delivering a mysterious briefcase to the Library of Virginia.

Inside were several audio tapes and a large collection of official documents. Even his own family had no idea the briefcase existed or what it contained. For the next 16 years, the material remained hidden. The library classified it as restricted and planned to keep it out of public view for decades. But an investigation by NPR eventually broke that silence.

After a lengthy legal battle to gain access to the files, the organization finally obtained the archive. That’s when the material that brings us to today’s video came to light. Four authentic audio recordings of executions carried out in Virginia between 1987 and 1990, including the execution of Wilbert Lee Evans, which you’re about to hear.

The man who donated the collection was R.M. Oliver, a former employee of the Virginia Department of Corrections. To this day, it remains a mystery how he obtained these official records or why he chose to secretly donate them to the Library of Virginia. What’s even more intriguing is that Oliver had already left the Department of Corrections before any of the executions on those tapes took place.

That has led many people to wonder how he gained access to such highly sensitive material and why he kept it hidden for so many years. One detail in particular stood out. Of the four inmates whose executions were recorded, only one photograph of each had survived, taken just a few hours before their executions after their heads had been shaved and they were prepared to enter the death chamber.

Wilbert Lee Evans was the only exception. Investigators found five different photographs of him, all taken just hours before he was executed. What you’re about to hear is the complete recording of Wilbert Lee Evans execution. The audio has not been altered in any way. The only edits made were the removal of a few unusually long periods of silence to make the recording easier to listen to.

It is now 10:56. Warden Muncy is proceeding to the cell to read the order by the court to Evans. Seems to be a pause. The attorney is still taking a statement from Evans.

She’s She’s calling him.

[clears throat]

It is now 10:57. The warden is reading the order by the court to Evans.

[clears throat]

Evans has requested to read it himself.

The warden has handed him the order.

Wait. 10:57, they’re reading the court order.

[clears throat]

Evans is reading the court order. 10:59, Evans has completed reading the court order to himself. He’s handed it back to the warden.

[clears throat]

The cell door is opening. The team is walking Evans out of the cell.

The team is escorting Evans into the chamber. It is now 11:02. The process is complete.

Okay. 11:04, [clears throat] the first surge of electricity has been administered. It’s 11:05. 11:05, second surge of electricity has been administered.

There were no last words?

All right, last words were given to his attorney.

Okay.

Prior to leaving the cell, he gave the attorney a statement. The process complete.

11:05, 11:06. What was the time of that?

11:05. It’s 11:08. Team member is proceeding towards Evans to open his shirt. Dr. Peel has entered the room. It is 11:09. The inmate has expired.