wfn.org | Presbyterian Churches Hold Memorial Services

[PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org]

14-April-1997 
97153 
 
          Presbyterian Churches Hold Memorial Services  
          for Florida Inmate Set Afire During Execution 
 
                      by Jerry L. Van Marter 
 
LOUISVILLE, Ky.--Memorial services were held April 6 in Presbyterian 
churches in Florida and New Jersey for Pedro Medina, whose fiery March 25 
execution in Florida's electric chair gained worldwide attention when 
flames up to a foot high burst from beneath his face mask as the 
electricity was turned on. 
 
     The execution in Starke, Florida, was attended by Medina's pastor, the 
Rev. Glenn Dickson of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Gainesville, Fla. 
One of the memorial services  was held at Westminster Church. 
 
     The other service was held at First Presbyterian Church of Cape May, 
N.J., where a prayer vigil had been organized prior to Medina's execution 
by Peggy Madden, a member of First Church and Medina's sponsor when he 
first came to the United States on the 1980 boatlift from the port of 
Mariel in Cuba. 
 
     Medina was convicted of the 1982 murder of Dorothy James, a 
52-year-old schoolteacher who had befriended him.  Many people close to 
James and Medina and therefore familiar with their friendship believed 
Medina was incapable of the murder.  Pope John Paul II was among those who 
asked Florida officials not to execute Medina, whose last words reportedly 
were: "I am still innocent." 
 
     Despite the flames, Florida medical examiner Belle Almojera said 
Medina had died "a very quick, humane death." 
 
     "This is so inhumane, so unbelievable that we can still treat people 
like this in this day and age," Madden said.  "It was just as though God 
was sending us a message."  
 
     Florida attorney general Bob Buttworth delivered a different message. 
He said Medina's death should be a warning to those contemplating murder 
that "they better not do it in the state of Florida because we may have a 
problem with our electric chair," reported "USA Today." 
 
          Florida governor Lawton Chiles said the flames erupting from 
Medina's face mask were caused by a corroded piece of metal in the mask and 
that the faulty part would be replaced. 
 
(Information for this story also furnished by "USA Today" and Religion News 
Service) 

------------
For more information contact Presbyterian News Service
  phone 502-569-5504             fax 502-569-8073  
  E-mail PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org   Web page: http://www.pcusa.org 
  mailed from World Faith News <wfn-news@wfn.org>  

--