These Are the 5 Men the Federal Government Plans to Execute – The New York Times

Alfred Bourgeois, 55, who tortured and killed his daughter

Mr. Bourgeois, of La Place, La., was sentenced to death in 2004 after he was convicted of murdering his 2-year-old daughter.

At his trial, eight people who knew Mr. Bourgeois, including family members, said they had been threatened or assaulted by him, according to The Plainview Daily Herald in Texas. They said he had tortured and repeatedly beaten his daughter in the months before killing her in 2002.

The Daily Herald reported that Mr. Bourgeois had staged a fall in a parking lot, and that the child died hours later. Mr. Bourgeois was arrested after an autopsy found more than 300 injuries that were not consistent with a fall.

Of the five men whom the Justice Department said it wanted to execute, Mr. Bourgeois is the only one who is black, even though the federal death row is composed of a disproportionate number of black men, making it the subject of criticism. The Justice Department is seeking to execute Mr. Bourgeois on Jan. 13.

Dustin Honken, 51, convicted of killing five people, including two children

Mr. Honken, of Mason City, Iowa, killed five people in 1993 with the help of his girlfriend, who was once one of only two women on federal death row.

Mr. Honken, described as the kingpin of a methamphetamine operation, fatally shot two fellow drug dealers, as well as a girlfriend of one of the men and the daughters, ages 6 and 10, of the other. The Justice Department said the two men had planned to testify against him.

Iowa does not have the death penalty, but Mr. Honken was charged with federal crimes, meaning he can still be executed by the federal government. His execution is scheduled for Jan. 15.