A look at Colorado’s record on the death penalty

A row of crosses stands along Alameda Avenue near the intersection of Sable Boulevard to honor the 12 victims of the massacre at a nearby movie theatre and to mark the third anniversary of the killing spree, Monday, July 20, 2015, in Aurora, Colo. James Holmes, who had been working toward his Ph.D. in neuroscience, could get the death penalty for the massacre that left 12 people dead and dozens of others wounded early Friday, July 20, 2012. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) A row of crosses stands along Alameda Avenue near the intersection of Sable Boulevard to honor the 12 victims of the massacre at a nearby movie theatre and to mark the third anniversary of the killing spree, Monday, July 20, 2015, in Aurora, Colo. James Holmes, who had been working toward his Ph.D. in neuroscience, could get the death penalty for the massacre that left 12 people dead and dozens of others wounded early Friday, July 20, 2012. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

By Associated Press July 21, 2015 2 min read

DENVER (AP) – Colorado theater shooter James Holmes will be sentenced to either death or life in prison without parole after the penalty phase of his trial, which starts Wednesday. Either way, Holmes can expect to spend decades in prison. Here’s a look at Colorado’s record on the death penalty:

LAST EXECUTION

Colorado has executed only one person since 1967, Gary Lee Davis, who was put to death in 1997 for kidnapping and raping Virginia May, 33, near her Byers home, then shooting her 14 times with a .22-caliber rifle.

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EXECUTION METHOD