Ralph Leroy Menzies
Ralph Leroy Menzies, 67, had been held on Utah's death row for decades. His attorneys said his dementia and other health problems had declined sharply, and that he was deeply loved by his family, friends and legal team and devoted himself in his later years to helping others. He died at a hospital on November 26, 2025, and the Utah Department of Corrections said he died of presumed natural causes and would not release further medical details. His legal team said he kept his spiritedness and dignity until the end, and a competency hearing on whether he could be executed had been set for December.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (disputed). The Utah Department of Corrections said Menzies died of presumed natural causes, while his attorneys said his dementia and vascular disease had declined sharply and raised questions about his competency to be executed.
Reported by: Utah Department of Corrections (the agency that held him); Rep. Candice Pierucci; his attorneys.
News reports (13)
- Press Releases
- Death row inmate Ralph Menzies dies of natural causes
- Utah death row inmate Ralph Menzies dies of natural causes after 37 years in prison
- Inmate Ralph L. Menzies Passes Away
- After decades on death row, Ralph Menzies dies of natural causes instead of firing squad
- Utah death row inmate Ralph Menzies dies of natural causes
- Utah death row inmate with dementia dies of natural causes
- Death row inmate Ralph Menzies dead at age 67
- Once days away from a firing squad execution, Utah death row inmate Ralph Menzies has died of natural causes
- Ralph Leroy Menzies: Death row prisoner dies of natural causes while awaiting firing squad
- Utah death row inmate with dementia dies of natural causes 3 months after execution was halted
- After a Utah inmate spent 36 years on death row and died of natural causes, a lawmaker wants to speed up the process
- After a Utah inmate spent 36 years on death row and died of natural causes, a lawmaker wants to speed up the process - The Times-Independent