Age, Biography and Wiki

Willie Francis was born on 12 January, 1929 in Saint Martinville, Louisiana, U.S., is an Execution survivor (1929–1947). Discover Willie Francis's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Learn How rich is he in this year and how he spends money? Also learn how he earned most of networth at the age of 18 years old?

Popular As N/A
Occupation N/A
Age 18 years old
Zodiac Sign Capricorn
Born 12 January 1929
Birthday 12 January
Birthplace Saint Martinville, Louisiana, U.S.
Date of death 9 May, 1947
Died Place Louisiana State Penitentiary, West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, U.S.
Nationality United States

We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 12 January. He is a member of famous with the age 18 years old group.

Willie Francis Height, Weight & Measurements

At 18 years old, Willie Francis height not available right now. We will update Willie Francis's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible.

Physical Status
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Dating & Relationship status

He is currently single. He is not dating anyone. We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. According to our Database, He has no children.

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Willie Francis Net Worth

His net worth has been growing significantly in 2023-2024. So, how much is Willie Francis worth at the age of 18 years old? Willie Francis’s income source is mostly from being a successful . He is from United States. We have estimated Willie Francis's net worth, money, salary, income, and assets.

Net Worth in 2024 $1 Million - $5 Million
Salary in 2024 Under Review
Net Worth in 2023 Pending
Salary in 2023 Under Review
House Not Available
Cars Not Available
Source of Income

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Timeline

1929

Willie Francis (January 12, 1929 – May 9, 1947) was an American teenager known for surviving a failed execution by electrocution in the United States.

1944

In 1944, Andrew Thomas, a pharmacist in St. Martinville, Louisiana, was shot and killed.

1945

He was a convicted juvenile sentenced to death at age 16 by the state of Louisiana in 1945 for the murder of Andrew Thomas, a pharmacy owner in St. Martinville who had once employed him.

In the modern day, Francis's guilt has been disputed.

He was 17 when he survived the first attempt to execute him, as the chair malfunctioned.

His murder remained unsolved for nine months, but in August 1945, Willie Francis was detained in Texas on suspicion of drug trafficking due to his carrying a briefcase and speaking with a stutter.

Police claimed that he was carrying Thomas' wallet in his pocket, though no evidence of this claim was submitted during the trial.

Francis initially named several others in connection with the murder, but the police dismissed these claims.

A short time later, while under interrogation, Francis confessed to Thomas' murder, writing, "It was a secret about me and him."

He had no counsel with him.

The meaning of his statement is still uncertain.

1946

On May 3, 1946, Francis survived an attempt at execution by the electric chair.

Witnesses reported hearing the teenager scream from behind the leather hood, "Take it off! Take it off! Let me breathe!"

as the supposedly lethal surge of electricity was being applied.

The portable electric chair, known as "Gruesome Gertie", was found to have been improperly set up by an intoxicated prison guard and inmate from the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola.

The sheriff, E.L. Resweber, was later quoted as saying: "This boy really got a shock when they turned that machine on."

After the botched execution, attorney Bertrand DeBlanc decided to take Francis' case.

He felt it was unjust, and cruel and unusual punishment, as prohibited in the Constitution, to subject him again to the execution process.

DeBlanc had been best friends with Thomas and his decision was greeted with dismay by the citizens in the small Cajun town.

1947

After an appeal of his case taken to the Supreme Court of the United States failed, he was executed in 1947 at age 18.

DeBlanc took Francis' case to the Supreme Court in Francis v. Resweber, 329 U.S. 459 (1947), citing various violations of his Fifth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendment rights.

These included violations of equal protection, double jeopardy, and cruel and unusual punishment.

The US Supreme Court rejected the appeal.

DeBlanc then began attempting to have Francis' murder conviction overturned citing new evidence and deep flaws in Francis' trial.

Francis, however, did not want a second trial and persuaded DeBlanc to desist shortly before his next scheduled execution.

Subsequently, Willie Francis was returned to the electric chair on May 9, 1947.

He told reporter Elliott Chaze a couple of days prior to the execution that he was going to meet the Lord with his "Sunday pants and Sunday heart."

He was pronounced dead in the chair at 12:10 p.m. (Central Time).

2008

Author Gilbert King, in his book The Execution of Willie Francis (2008), alludes to rumors in St. Martinville of sexual abuse of the youth by the pharmacist.

Francis' first confession claimed that he stole the gun used to kill Thomas from August Fuselier, a deputy sheriff in St. Martinville.

Fuselier had once threatened to kill Thomas.

The gun, and the bullets recovered from the crime scene and Thomas' body, disappeared from police evidence just before the trial.

Despite two separate written confessions, Francis pleaded not guilty.

Many of Francis' proponents have speculated that he was innocent and had been coerced to make false confessions.

During his trial, the court-appointed defense attorneys offered no objections, called no witnesses, and put up no defense.

The validity of Francis' confessions were not questioned by the defense, although he had no counsel at the time.

Two days after the trial began, Francis was quickly found guilty of murder by twelve white jurors and the judge sentenced Francis to death despite Francis having been underage at 15 at the time of the crime.