Weird2 min(s) read
Published 14:28 19 Mar 2026 GMT
Shocking audio of electric chair execution reveals how long it actually takes for the prisoner to die
It's one of the most terrifying deaths imaginable - but how long does it actually take for a prisoner to die on the electric chair?
If you've ever been morbidly fascinated by this - then an answer is finally available.
And the answers come from the resurfaced audio of the electrocution of killer Ivon Ray Stanley in 1984.
What does the shocking audio of the electric chair execution reveal?
Ivon Ray Stanley, a black man, was the 21st man executed in the United States and the second in Georgia since the Supreme Court dropped the ban on the death penalty in 1976.
He was lead into the 'death chamber' at 12:05AM at the Jackson Diagnostic Centre in Atlanta, Georgia on July 12, 1984.
His death was fully recorded and narrated as it was taking place.
Stanley, who was jailed for killing his victims by burying them alive, was pronounced dead at 12:24AM.
Overall, the entire process - from the preparation of the body to the five-minute 'cooling down' period lasted 19 minutes.
Did Ivon Ray Stanley have any last words?
No, Ivon Ray Stanley did not have any last words. According to reports, he also refused to see a minister several times before he was sentenced to die.
You can clearly hear on the recording someone asking Stanley: "Are you ready to die now?" He had no reply.
As per UPI.com, Stanley remained expressionless as the death hood was dropped over to cover his face.
On the recording, you can hear the voice of official Colonel Low calmly narrating the scene. When the volts enter Stanley's body, his fists are clenched but he slowly "relaxes" and shows no movement throughout the process.
Viewers of the video shared their horror, writing: "'Are you ready to die now?' That has to be the most terrifying thing to hear in the whole process."
Others added: "I was shocked how long it took to be effective, seems very inhumane," and: "its weird to realize how that countdown was the very last thing he heard on this planet".
Another viewer wrote: "This isn't 'monstrous' or 'scary', this is justice. This guy tortured and killed someone for no reason other than he felt like it, and he got to live an extra 8 years afterwards."
Someone else commented: "looked up this guys case online. he robbed and murdered an insurance collector and buried him alive. glad the man got justice."