He also provided the inspiration for the Sean Penn character, Matthew Poncelet, in the film Dead Man Walking. He was executed in the electric chair for the May 28, 1980 kidnap, rape, and murder of 18 year old Faith Hathaway in Mandeville, Louisiana.

How long was Matthew Poncelet on death row?

Matthew Poncelet has been on death row for six years, after being sentenced to death for the murder of a teenage couple.

Is the film Dead Man Walking a true story?

Dead Man Walking is loosely based on a couple of true stories involving Sister Helen Prejean and is adapted from her memoirs, although Penn's character is a composite based on multiple convicted murderers helped by the sister.