The New York Times

Thursday, August 7, 1997

Missouri Executes Killer,

Who Cut Up a Woman

POTOSI,,Mo., Aug., 6 (AP) - Professing his innocence until the end, a former television repairman was executed today for killing a woman with whom he lived and then cutting up her body to prevent the authorities from identifying her remains. Strapped to a gurney, the inmate, Ralph C. Feltrop, 42, turned his head toward the room where his relatives were watching and smiled. Prison officials said his last words were:. "I am, innocent of the murder charge. I was defending myself. This was a case of accidental death.I am legally innocent of this crime."

Mr. Feltrop was convicted of severing an artery in 27-year-old Barbara Ann Roam's neck in March 1987 at the trailer they. shared. He put her body in a refrigerator for several days, then dismembered it to thwart the police, officials said.

In a telephone interview on, Tuesday, Mr. Fettfop admitted killing Ms. Roam but said it was self-defense., When asked why he had chopped up her body, he replied, "I was in -a panic."

Arkansas Execution

For 1980 Double Murder

VARNER, Ark., Aug. 6 (AP) - A man who shot to death a jeweler and his daughter,in a 19.80 robbery was executed by injection today at the prison here in southern Arkansas after he proclaimed his innocence.

The, inmate, Eugene Wallace Perry, 53, had been convicted of killing Kenneth Staton and his daughter Suzanne Staton Ware in Mr. Staton's jewelry store.

"I am innocent of this crime," Mr. Perry said in his final words. "I take refuge in the Buddha."

Mr. Perry had asserted that another death row inmate, Marion Pruett, had committed the slayings. Mr. Pruett confessed to the killings, but the courts rejected, his confession and refused to overturn Mr. Perry's conviction.