The Death Row Chef Who Refused One Last Meal—Here's The Heartbreaking Reason Why

When justice meets compassion: The Texas chef who cooked 218 last meals but refused one.

Sophia

• Published in Interesting
• September 18, 2024

In the haunting halls of Texas' death row, where final moments are counted down, one small comfort has historically been the ritual of the last meal.

For over a decade, Brian Price, an inmate-turned-chef, was responsible for preparing these final requests, a task both chilling and profound. Known as the "Death Row Chef," Price cooked 218 last meals for those awaiting execution, serving dishes that ranged from humble requests to extravagant feasts.

Yet, despite his commitment to this solemn duty, there was one instance where Price refused to cook.

Price’s journey to the kitchen was as unexpected as it was ironic. Initially incarcerated in 1989 for assaulting his ex-wife and kidnapping his brother-in-law, Price found himself in the kitchen of Texas Huntsville Prison, a far cry from his former life as a musician and photographer.

As he transitioned into the role of the Death Row Chef, Price embraced the gravity of his position, understanding that his meals were not just food but the final comfort for those about to face the ultimate consequence.

However, in one case, Price’s personal connection to the victims led him to make a certain decision that would forever mark his haunting tenure in the prison kitchen.

For over a decade, Brian Price served as the Death Row Chef at Texas Huntsville Prison, a role that saw him prepare 218 final meals for inmates awaiting execution.

These meals, often meticulously requested by the condemned, were meant to provide a last moment of solace before facing death. Price took this responsibility seriously, recognizing the weight of each dish he prepared. Yet, there was one convict for whom Price simply could not bring himself to cook: Leopoldo Narvaiz Jr.

Narvaiz was sentenced to death for the brutal 1998 murders of his ex-girlfriend, her two sisters, and her brother.

The crime was horrific, and for Price, it hit close to home—the victims were friends of his daughters. This personal connection was too much for Price, who handed off the responsibility of preparing Narvaiz’s last meal to another inmate.

It was the only time in his career that Price refused to fulfill his duty, a decision that underscores the emotional toll of his work.

In an interview with The Guardian in 2004, Price recalled preparing a T-bone steak for an inmate who had requested filet mignon. The inmate, who had shot a man dead during a grocery store robbery, thanked Price for the meal—a moment that profoundly impacted the chef.

“That blew me away,” Price admitted. “I went back to my cell that night and really reflected upon it. That was probably the last thanks that guy gave anyone before he left this world.”

The tradition of the last meal in Texas, however, came to an abrupt end in 2011.

Lawrence Russell Brewer, a white supremacist convicted of a brutal hate crime, ordered an elaborate feast for his final meal, only to refuse to eat any of it. This act of defiance led Texas lawmakers to abolish the last meal tradition altogether, a decision that Price publicly criticized.

“We should not get rid of the last meal,” he told KSAT. “Justice is going to be served when this person is executed, but can we not show our softer side? Our compassionate side?”

Today, death row inmates in Texas are given whatever is on the cafeteria menu for their final meal, a stark contrast to the individualized requests once honored. Price's tenure as the Death Row Chef may be over, but his story continues to resonate, offering a unique glimpse into the final moments of those who faced the ultimate punishment.

His refusal to cook for Narvaiz, and his reflections on the role of compassion in the justice system, leave us with much to ponder about the human side of this grim reality.

Sophia