Two Women Remain on North Carolina Death Row
North Carolina currently holds two women among its 122 total death row inmates at the Raleigh prison.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Women’s Issues
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Blanche Taylor Moore and Carlette Parker remain the only two women on death row in North Carolina. Both inmates are currently housed at the North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women.
Why it matters
The status of these inmates remains a point of focus as state lawmakers consider plans to resume executions in North Carolina for the first time since 2006.
Blanche Taylor Moore is 93 years old and has been on death row since 1990, while 63-year-old Carlette Parker has been on death row since 1999. They are part of a broader population of 122 individuals awaiting execution in the state.
The players
Blanche Taylor Moore
She is a 93-year-old inmate who has served more than 30 years on death row.
Carlette Parker
She is a 63-year-old inmate currently incarcerated at the North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women.
The details
Blanche Taylor Moore was sentenced to death for poisoning Raymond Reid with arsenic in 1986, while Carlette Parker was sentenced for the kidnapping and drowning of Alice Covington. Prosecutors argued Parker murdered Covington after the victim discovered the theft of $2,500.
Timeline
1986: Raymond Reid died after being poisoned with arsenic.
1990: Blanche Taylor Moore received her death sentence.
1999: Carlette Parker was sentenced to death.
2006: North Carolina conducted its last execution.
Roadmap
The presence of only two female inmates on death row mirrors the national rarity of capital sentencing for women, who account for a small fraction of the 2,000 death row inmates nationwide. This localized status underscores the broader legal and ethical debates surrounding the resumption of state-sanctioned capital punishment.
The potential resumption of executions by state lawmakers could lead to significant changes in local prison operations and security protocols in Raleigh. Residents should remain aware that legislative shifts in capital punishment policy often result in increased public oversight and debate regarding state judicial spending.
The takeaway
Capital punishment cases involving women remain rare, representing a small portion of the national death row population. These ongoing cases serve as a persistent reminder of the legal complexities and long-standing sentencing policies within the state justice system.
Further reading
For more context on legal matters regarding the state's female population, visit the Women’s Issues section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Durham Herald Sun.
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