Utah Death Row Inmate Passes Away from Natural Causes Before Scheduled Execution

A Utah prisoner who had spent 37 years on death row and was recently granted a stay due to dementia, died this Wednesday from natural causes, as confirmed by the state's corrections department.

Ralph Leroy Menzies passed away at 1:45 p.m. local time in a hospital setting. His family and the relatives of Maurine Hunsaker, whom he was found guilty of kidnapping and murdering in 1986, have been informed about his demise.

In September, Menzies, aged 67, was scheduled for execution, but the Utah Supreme Court put a hold on the execution process in August, primarily because of concerns regarding his mental competence. A hearing to assess his mental health was lined up for December.

The state's corrections department stated they would not provide any additional details about Menzies' health or the nature of his medical condition.

Ralph Menzies was convicted nearly four decades ago for abducting and killing 26-year-old Hunsaker from her workplace, a convenience store near Salt Lake City. Her body was found two days later. In 1988, a jury sentenced him to death.

Utah Attorney General Derek Brown commented Wednesday, "Maurine Hunsaker was a beloved spouse and mother. Her life was tragically taken by Ralph Menzies in a brutal act. Over the decades, Utah has relentlessly sought justice for her. The journey has been lengthy and has caused much heartache, more than what any family should endure."

Had Menzies been executed, he would have been the seventh individual in the U.S. since 1977 to face the firing squad. He had chosen this method when permitted to decide years ago.

Earlier this year, the Utah Supreme Court acknowledged that his deteriorating mental condition posed significant questions regarding his eligibility for execution.

Menzies took Hunsaker from her workplace on February 23, 1986, during his parole. She managed to call her husband, informing him about the robbery and abduction, and mentioned that her captor intended to set her free. Her body was discovered two days later by a hiker, 16 miles away in Big Cottonwood Canyon. Hunsaker had been strangled, and her throat cut.

Authorities reported finding Hunsaker's thumbprint in a vehicle linked to Menzies, and her belongings, including a purse, were found in his apartment. When apprehended on separate charges, Menzies possessed her wallet and other possessions.

His legal team stated, "We appreciate that Ralph passed in a natural manner and retained his resilience and dignity till the end."

Utah's most recent execution, utilizing lethal injection, occurred just over a year ago. The last instance of a firing squad being used in Utah was for Ronnie Lee Gardner in 2010.