The Happiest Man on Death Row – Joe Arridy

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27th May 2018  •  3 min read

Joe Arridy, 23, who had an I.Q. of 46, was executed for a murder he did not commit. Unable to comprehend what was about to happen, he smiled as he entered the death chamber.


The Happiest Man on Death Row - Joe Arridy

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Morbidology is a weekly true crime podcast created and hosted by Emily G. Thompson. Using investigative research combined with primary audio, Morbidology takes an in-depth look at true crime cases from all across the world.


Joe Arridy, 23, who had an I.Q. of 46 and behaved more like a child than an adult, confessed to the 1936 rape and axe murder of 15-year-old Dorothy Drain in Pueblo, Colorado. On the 16th of August, 1936, Riley Drain – a Works Project Administration foreman – and his wife, Peggy, left their home at around 10PM to go dancing. When they returned that night, they heard moans coming from the bedroom upstairs. They rushed upstairs to find Dorothy dying and her 12-year-old sister, Barbara, critically injured. Both had been attacked with an axe and Dorothy had been raped. Miraculously, Barbara survived.

Arridy had spent most of his life at the Colorado State Home and Training School for Mental Defectives; he couldn’t even count to five or tell the difference between red and blue. He was picked up by police after wandering around rail yards in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and was thrown into the centre of the investigation of the slayings. After an intensive interrogation, Arridy was led into a false confession by Sheriff George J. Carroll, the officer who had a part in breaking up the Ma Barker gang. Many theorise that Carroll framed Arridy in an attempt to get his name in the papers again. “I think he had to get famous again,” said author Robert Perske. According to Carroll, Arridy had provided a detailed account into the slaying despite the fact that he could barely string a coherent sentence together.

He was found guilty despite the fact that there was no direct evidence that could tie him to the crime. In fact, they already had a prime suspect: Frank Aguilar who had been fired by Riley Drain, the father of Barbara. The murder weapon was even discovered in Aguilar’s home but after arresting Arridy and discovering he was from Pueblo, they zoned in on him. During the trial, Aguilar claimed that it was Arridy who killed Dorothy even though her sister, who survived the attack, pointed at Aguilar as their attacker. Both Arridy and Aguilar were sentenced to die in the gas chamber. Arridy would become known as the happiest man ever to be on Death Row.

Roy Best, the warden, lobbied tirelessly to save Arridy’s life. He visited him daily on Death Row and have gim a red toy train to play with. “He was as happy as any child with something he always had longed for and never expected to have,” said Best. On Christmas Eve of 1938, Best even brought Arridy home to play with his nephews. He – as well as most other people – knew that Arridy was truly innocent of the crime for which he had been charged. On the 6th of January, 1939, Arridy was led to the gas chamber with his toy train still in his hand. “A wreck! A wreck! Fix the wreck,” Arridy cried out with glee as he played with his train one last time, pretending to crash it into the cell door. He requested ice cream as his last meal and didn’t comprehend that he was about to die. He didn’t even understand the meaning of the gas chamber, telling the warden: “No, no, Joe won’t die…”

He stepped into the gas chamber grinning like a little boy. He was strapped to the death chair and a blindfold placed over his eyes. “Goodbye, Joe,” said Father Schaller before slipping out. Then Roy Best dropped the gas cylinders that ended his friend’s life – as warden at Old Max, that was his job.

Joe Arridy was buried on Woodpecker Hill, the rocky western slope of Greenwood Cemetery which was reserved for convicts who died in nearby Canon City prisons with no loved ones to bury them. His name was spelt wrong on the rusty marker placed on top of his grave. Years later, this marker would be exchanged for a granite monument which had been purchased by advocates for the developmentally disabled. “Developmentally disabled people routinely say ‘yes’ to authority figures,” said Craig Sevara, advocacy specialist for the Arcof the Pikes Peak Region during the unveiling of the new monument. “They are extremely vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.” The new monument reads: “Here lies an innocent man.”

The Happiest Man on Death Row - Joe Arridy

In 2011, Arridy was granted a full and unconditional posthumous pardon. An overwhelming body of evidence indicated that he was innocent, including a coerced and false confession and the likelihood that Arridy wasn’t even in Pueblo at the time of the slaying. “Pardoning Mr. Arridy cannot undo this tragic event in Colorado history. It is in the interests of justice and simple decency, however, to restore his good name,” said Gov. Bill Ritter.

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Mazikeen69
Mazikeen69
6 years ago

It breaks my heart

Angel
Angel
6 years ago
Reply to  Mazikeen69

Mine too :’(

imatoughnacho
6 years ago

R.I.P Joe Arridy

Kelly Noble
Kelly Noble
6 years ago

Rest in peace Joe Arridy. Roy Best, warden…seemed to be a kind man who knew joe was innocent…giving him a little bit of happiness and joy ( the train and daily visits as well as that xmas eve to play with other ” boys” ) bless you Mr. Best. May the men who sentenced you to death knowing in their hearts you were innocent, rot in hell. These days things like this wouldn’t happen. But Joe in his innocence, is in a better place than the cruel world/time he was born into.

Ban the death penalty
Ban the death penalty
5 years ago
Reply to  Kelly Noble

Sad to say that this does still happen particularly in the us system which has a record of putting innocent people to death

Angel
Angel
6 years ago

They railroaded this young man and I am so upset nobody was ever held accountable. The world is such a cruel place and we failed Joe Arridy. This is why capital punishment needs abolished, so that there is never another Joe Arridy… RIP.

TrainFever
TrainFever
5 years ago
Reply to  Angel

Ironic that a toy train is the one thing that brought him joy

Ella
Ella
3 years ago
Reply to  TrainFever

How is that ironic?

Jessie's girl
Jessie's girl
3 years ago
Reply to  Ella

The original commenter said the justice system “railroaded” Joe Arridy, which is supposed to be the irony behind the toy train bringing Arridy happiness.

Tara White
Tara White
6 years ago

This story breaks my heart…and it angers me to no end! How could these idiots blame this poor disabled boy on that crime?! He was innocent mentally and emotionally. Carrying his toy train…omg…im crying over it literally. And then to make matters worse the assholes spelled his name wrong? I mean some people have absolutely no luck in this cruel world. Thank goodness they posthumously proved him innocent and he was given a new headstone. Tragedy…so much that you forget the other victims! I wouldve been there for him…fighting for his innocence believe that!

Ella
Ella
3 years ago
Reply to  Tara White

They had a rightful suspect with murder weapon In his possession. Why pen on someone they know is innocent? To save the expense of a trial? I am so angry.

Delian P
Delian P
5 years ago

It breaks my heart. I was literally crying while reading this. 😭

Andy Zukowski
Andy Zukowski
5 years ago

So Sad

Leif Andersen
Leif Andersen
5 years ago

Ok then, all that were involved in wrongfully convicting and sending this innocent man to the gas chamber…the prosecutor , judge, Sherrif and the cops must also be executed in the gas chamber in order to right this wrong done to Mr.Arridy. Nothing but this would avenge and bring justice to Mr.Arridy

Ella
Ella
3 years ago
Reply to  Leif Andersen

Judge only gives sentencing. Every one below him lied and cover ups judge heard what they wanted him to hear I’m sure

Wes
Wes
5 years ago

How come there hasn’t been a movie about this yet?

Brandon
Brandon
5 years ago
Reply to  Wes

There has been its called the green mile it’s based of this case

E.C.
E.C.
3 years ago
Reply to  Brandon

actually, the stepthen king book that the movie was based off of was inspired by this story

Ella
Ella
3 years ago
Reply to  Brandon

The guy in green mile could heal people. This guy couldn’t. Did writers of green mile show on the credits where it was based on a true story?

CJ200
CJ200
1 year ago
Reply to  Ella

There are probably two people in the book that were based off of Mr. Arridy. Michael Jeter, the one who was friends with the rat, made the most of his time in the cell, just like Mr. Arridy. He found a way to make himself and others happy, not causing trouble for them. And the other character is John Coffey, who was wrongfully committed. Stephen King most likely gave John Coffey supernatural powers as a symbolism of how pure, childlike, and innocent he was.

Ann
Ann
3 years ago
Reply to  Wes

There’s a Korean movie entitled “Miracle in Cell No. 7” I’m not sure if it was inspired by this story but sure has a lot of similarities.

Julie
Julie
5 years ago

So sad this should never have happened

Dee Stokes
Dee Stokes
5 years ago

I am broken hearted to know that this guy was killed and his mind couldn’t even grasp the meaning of death and they freaking KILLED HIM that poor man!! This is ridiculous!! I hope really believe that since he has been exonerated they should donate mines to the mentally ill facilities to help people who have a mental illnesses like Joe Arridy. Wow unbelievable!!!!!!!

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[…] Morbidology: "The Happiest Man on Death Row–Joe Arridy" by Emily Thompson […]

MacD
MacD
3 years ago

Perfect. Way to bring skin color into the convo…..Leroy. And only devils could be white, am i right…….Leroy? Leroy Jenkins, only white devils trip him out.

Last edited 3 years ago by MacD
sorewreckedum
sorewreckedum
3 years ago

If he was innocent why did they go through with killing him? Fucking shit bags.

Pauline Pryer
Pauline Pryer
3 years ago

Truly hear breaking 😢 💔

Mimi Mashito
Mimi Mashito
2 years ago

May he be happy and protected by the Gods now.

hope m senart
hope m senart
1 year ago

its soo sad to see him lay in heavn you know he could still be alive today its sad cause im his cousin

nonegiven
nonegiven
1 year ago

RIP. i would image a lot of “undesirables” may have gone through the system and ended up in similar faits.

Kiyana T
Kiyana T
5 months ago

this man is on death row and looks like hes having the happiest time of his life. its sad that he wasnt even guilty tho

Amanda
Amanda
1 month ago

Cop should have taken his place he’s a premeditated murderer doing that to him

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