Dalton Prejean (December 10, 1959 – May 18, 1990) was an American murderer.
He was tried, convicted, and executed by the electric chair in Louisiana for the murder of Louisiana State Police Trooper Donald Cleveland.
The case received international attention because the defendant was a black man convicted by an all-white jury; had brain damage and tested just above mental retardation; and was age 17 at the time of the crime.Prejean's son, Dalton Prejean Jr., born while his dad was awaiting execution was himself convicted of the 2001 death of a 14-month old baby.
Prejean Jr.
is currently serving a 60-year sentence in the same prison his father was executed in.