George Stinney, Jr. was 14 years old when South Carolina executed him in 1944, making him the youngest person executed in the U.S. in the 20th century.
Following his arrest, Stinney's father was fired from his job and his family was forced to flee or be lynched. Leaving the child helpless with no support during his 81-day confinement and trial. His trial, including jury selection, lasted just one day. His court-appointed attorney was a tax commissioner preparing to run for office. There was no court challenge to the testimony of the three police officers who claimed that Stinney had confessed, although that was the only evidence presented. There were no written records of a confession.