James Barney Hubbard (March 7, 1930 – August 5, 2004) was an American convicted murderer who was sentenced to death by the state of Alabama in 1977 for the murder of 62-year-old Lillian Montgomery, whom Hubbard had been living with following his release from prison.
On January 10, 1977, then-46-year-old Hubbard called police to report a shooting at Montgomery's home in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, alleging that Montgomery had shot herself. Hubbard, who had previously served a 20-year sentence for a different murder, was subsequently convicted of Montgomery's murder and sentenced to death.
In 2004, over 27 years after Montgomery's murder, Hubbard was executed by lethal injection. At the age of 74, he was oldest American to be executed in decades.
Background
In 1957, Hubbard was incarcerated following a second-degree murder conviction in the death of David Dockery in Tuscaloosa County. Hubbard was released 19 years later in October 1976, after which he moved into the home of 62-year-old storeowner Lillian Montgomery, who had befriended and sponsored Hubbard to gain his release.
Murder
In January 1977, Hubbard shot Montgomery three times and robbed her of her gold and diamond wristwatch, along with about $500 in cash and checks. Hubbard later called police and reported that he had been drinking whiskey with Montgomery, who committed suicide. Montgomery died as a result of three gunshot wounds – one to the face, one to the head, and one to the shoulder.
Later that year, Hubbard was found guilty of first-degree murder. In October 1977, he was sentenced to execution by lethal injection.
Execution
Prior to Hubbard's execution, the U.S. Supreme Court denied a stay in a 5–4 ruling, and Alabama governor Bob Riley rejected a request to commute Hubbard's sentence to life in prison, stating, "Justice has not been swift in this case, but justice must be delivered."
Hubbard was executed on August 5, 2004 at Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Alabama, over 27 years after Montgomery's murder. Hubbard's execution was witnessed by both his son and daughter. Hubbard was 74 years old at the time of his execution, making him the oldest inmate to be executed since the reinstatement of the death penalty in 1976.