An article claiming a death row inmate in Tennessee survived an execution and was released from prison is fake.
The bogus report was posted on Empire News, a self-described “satirical” website, this week, generating thousands of likes and shares on Facebook.
“A Tennessee death row inmate has been released from prison today after two attempts to execute him have failed. Peter Farmington was convicted of 3 counts of murder in the first degree when he pled guilty to murdering his wife and their two young children in March of 2006,” the fake article reads. “The prison warden, Joseph Goldsmith, called Farmington’s survival ”‘a divine intervention.’”
According to its disclaimer, Empire News doesn’t publish real stories. “Most works presented in this website are satire, parody, spoof and are completely fictitious,” it says.
It continues, “Empire News is a satirical and entertainment website. We only use invented names in all our stories, except in cases when public figures are being satirized. Any other use of real names is accidental and coincidental.”
On Tuesday, a number of people commented on the fake report on Facebook, apparently believing it.
“I say just shoot him! If he survived everything then why don’t they try all of it again?He killed his family so why don’t they just kill him?” one person wrote.
Added another, “Divine intervention or a demonic intervention?”
But some people noted that it’s a hoax.
“I can’t believe how many people believe this story lol..just google it damn!” one person said.
Said another, “I can’t believe that people actually think this is real...LOL.”
Finally, one Facebook user cautioned: “Don’t believe everything you read on the Internet.”
Empire News is the same website that posted a fake report saying mass killer Charles Manson was released from prison on parole. It also posted another article saying an unborn baby was found to be pregnant.
