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Today in History: Teresa Lewis becomes Virginia's first female lethal injection

By Drooid · Sep 23, 2026, 10:33 AM UTC · How we work

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Summary

Story summary

On September 23, 2024, Virginia executed Teresa Lewis, the first woman put to death in the Commonwealth since 1912 and the first via lethal injection. Lewis had been sentenced for murdering her husband and stepson in October 2002 to collect a $250,000 Army reservist life-insurance policy. She had been the only woman on Virginia’s death row.

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Story summary

On September 23, 2024, Virginia executed Teresa Lewis, the first woman put to death in the Commonwealth since 1912 and the first via lethal injection. Lewis had been sentenced for murdering her husband and stepson in October 2002 to collect a $250,000 Army reservist life-insurance policy. She had been the only woman on Virginia’s death row.