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Execution Watch with Ray Hill can be heard on KPFT HD-2 and here from 6:00 PM CT to 7:00 PM CT on any day an execution is scheduled in Texas. TDCJ's list of Scheduled Executions Past Executions and Programs Blog |
| Robert Hudson | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Thursday, November 20, 2008 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Execution | |||||||||||||||||||||
 Convicted in the May 7, 1999 stabbing death of a 35-year-old black female and the attempted murder of her 9-year-old son. Hudson caught the victim with another man and stabbed her 7 times in the upper torso with a knife. The victim's son tried to intervene and Hudson slashed him 2 times in the throat with a knife. The victim died at the scene and her son ran out of the apartment to a neighbor, who called police. Hudson was arrested at the scene. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Backpage on Robert Hudson | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Rogelio Cannady | |||||||||||||||
| Wednesday, November 19, 2008 | |||||||||||||||
| Execution | |||||||||||||||
 Convicted of: On October 10, 1993, Cannady who was serving a life sentence caused the death of a 55-year-old Hispanic male Texas prison inmate inside a medium-custody housing area at the McConnell Unit in Beeville. Cannady beat the victim who was Cannady's cellmate with a steel lock attached to a belt and kicked him repeatedly in the head with steel-toed boots. The victim who was serving 15-year sentence for murder died two days later.Cannady was the first Texas prison inmate to be prosecuted under a 1993 statute that allows for capital murder convictions if the offender is serving 99 years or life as a result of previous murder convictions. | |||||||||||||||
| From TDCJ: "The execution date for Cannady was withdrawn today [11/17/08], subject to further order of the court." | |||||||||||||||
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| Eric Cathey | |||||||||||||||
| Tuesday, November 18, 2008 | |||||||||||||||
| Execution | |||||||||||||||
 Convicted in the September, 1995 abduction and murder of Christina Castillo in Houston. Cathey and several others abducted Castillo from the parking lot of her apartment complex and attempted to force her to tell them about her boyfriend's drug and money dealings. When Castillo refused to give them any information, she was driven to a vacant lot in northeast Houston and shot three times in the head. | |||||||||||||||
| Backpage on Eric Cathey | |||||||||||||||
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| Denard Manns | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thursday, November 13, 2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Execution | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Convicted of: On 11/18/1998 in Killeen, Manns entered the home of a 26 year old white female. He sexually assaulted the victim, then shot her in the head and chest, resulting in her death. Manns took credit cards and cash from the residence and fled in the victim's vehicle.
A U.S. district judge in Waco, Texas, had ordered Manns' execution, originally scheduled for Aug. 20, be delayed until Nov. 13 because he has been without counsel since his attorney was removed from the case. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Backpage on Denard Manns | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| George Whitaker III | |||||||||||||||
| Wednesday, November 12, 2008 | |||||||||||||||
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| Execution | |||||||||||||||
 Convicted in the shooting death of 17-year-old Shakeitha Shanta Carrier of Crosby. Whitaker had been dating the victim's sister who had recently left him because of his abusive behavior. On the day of the murder, Whitaker drove to his former girlfriend's parents' home outside Crosby and told her mother, Mary, that he was returning some of her belongings. Told to leave them on the porch, Whitaker pulled a .45 caliber pistol and forced his way inside. He forced Mrs. Carrier and her 5-year-old daughter, Ashley, into the living room where he shot Mrs. Carrier once in the chest. He followed the fleeing Ashley upstairs where he confronted Shakeitha and shot her once in the head. He then pistol-whipped Ashley fracturing her skull in two places. Returning downstairs he saw Mrs. Carrier fleeing through the front door. Retrieving more bullets from his vehicle, he cornered Mrs. Carrier behind the house and shot her a second time in the chest. Both Mrs. Carrier and Ashley survived their wounds although Mrs. Carrier suffers from partial paralysis in her right arm and hand. Shakeitha died at the scene. Whitaker was traced to his apartment where he attempted to elude police by jumping out a window. Police shot him in the hip when he appeared to be reaching for a pistol. | |||||||||||||||
| From the Houston Chronicle Copyright 2008 by The Houston Chronicle The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles unanimously voted Monday to turn down condemned man George Whitaker's request for a reprieve. The board dismissed Whitaker's appeal in which he argued that jurors should have been told that he only would be eligible for parole after he served 40 years in prison. With all of his appeals exhausted, Whitaker, 37, is set to enter Texas' death chamber Wednesday. He was sentenced to die for the June 15, 1994, shooting death of Shakeitha Carrier, 17, a sister of his former girlfriend Catina Carrier, who had broken off their relationship two months before. Carrier's mother, Mary Carrier, was shot twice in the attack, and her sister Ashley, 5, was severely pistol-whipped. His execution is scheduled for Wednesday. | |||||||||||||||
| Backpage on George Whitaker III | |||||||||||||||
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| Elkie Taylor | ||||||||||||||||||
| Thursday, November 6, 2008 | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Execution | ||||||||||||||||||
 Convicted in the robbery and murder of 64-year-old Otis Flake in Fort Worth. Taylor and an accomplice forceably entered Flake's home and tied him up. The two then packed up several items from the home, including dishes, pots and pans, and a television later selling them for a total of $16. A friend of Flake's found him dead inside his bedroom later in the day. He had been strangled with two wire coat hangers. | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Gregory Wright | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thursday, October 30, 2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Execution | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Convicted of: On 03/21/1997, in DeSoto, Wright broke into the home of a white female. The victim was stabbed to death with a knife. Wright took many items from the home and left the scene in the victim's vehicle. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Free Greg Wright Web Page | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Backpage on Gregory Wright | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Eric Nenno | ||||||||||||||||||
| Tuesday, October 28, 2008 | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Execution | ||||||||||||||||||
 Convicted in the rape and murder of 7-year-old Nicole Benton in Hockley. Nenno lured the young girl to his home and attempted to rape her. He choked her to death when she began to cry and resist. He then raped her repeatedly. Nenno hid Benton's nude body in his attic until neighbors went to police two days later and told them he had earlier been accused of fondling a child. Under questioning, Nenno confessed to killing Benton and led police to her body. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Backpage on Eric Nenno | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Bobby Woods | |||||||||
| Thursday, October 23, 2008 | |||||||||
| Execution | |||||||||
 Convicted of: On April 30, 1997, Woods entered the home of his ex-girlfriend through an open window. Woods sexually assaulted the 11 year old white female, then abducted her and her 9-year-old male brother. Woods severely beat the 9-year-old boy about the head, resulting in serious injury, and cutting the throat of the 11-year-old victim, resulting in her death. | |||||||||
| Backpage on Bobby Woods | |||||||||
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| Joseph Ray Ries | |||||||||
| Tuesday, October 21, 2008 | |||||||||
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| Execution | |||||||||
 Convicted of: On 02/22/99, in Cumby, Texas, Ries and the co-defendant broke into the residence of a 64-year old white male who was asleep at the time. They shot the victim in the head with a 22-caliber pistol and then took his car. Property belonging to the victim was later pawned.
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| Backpage on Joseph Ray Ries | |||||||||
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| Kevin Watts | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thursday, October 16, 2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Execution | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Convicted of: On March 1, 2002, in San Antonio, Texas, Watts entered a restaurant and fatally shot 1 Asian male and 2 Asian females. Watts then kidnapped a fourth victim, a Asian female, sexually assaulted her and took her to codefendant Bolden's residence where he allowed Bolden to sexually assault her. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Backpage on Kevin Watts | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Alvin Andrew Kelly | ||||||
| Tuesday, October 14, 2008 | ||||||
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| Execution | ||||||
 Convicted in the shooting deaths of three people including an 18-month old child on April 30, 1984. According to TDCJ, 'records indicate the killings may have been drug related. | ||||||
| Backpage on Alvin Andrew Kelly | ||||||
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| Joseph Ries | ||||||
| Thursday, September 18, 2008 | ||||||
| Execution | ||||||
 Convicted of: On 02/22/99, in Cumby, Texas, Ries and the co-defendant broke into the residence of a 64-year old white male who was asleep at the time. The victim was shot in the head with a 22-caliber pistol and his car was taken. Property belonging to the victim was later pawned. | ||||||
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| William Murray | ||||||
| Wednesday, September 17, 2008 | ||||||
| Execution | ||||||
 Convicted of: On 02/10/98, in Kaufman, Texas, during the nighttime hours, a 93-year old female was beaten, strangled and raped . Law enforcement officers responded to a call concerning the victim at her residence. When the officers arrived, they found the residence to be in disarray and appeared to have been ransacked. They found the victim in the bedroom, nude from the waist down with wounds and bruising on and about her head area. The victim also had an Ace bandage tied around her neck and into her mouth, which was soaked with blood. It was stated that the victim's death was caused by strangulation and blunt force injuries. The subject confessed to entering the residence and ransacking it. The subject admitted that he physically and sexually assaulted the victim, and wrapped an Ace bandage around her face and mouth. The subject admitted he removed some change from a jar and a small knife. | ||||||
| Backpage on William Murray | ||||||
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| Charles Hood | ||||||
| Wednesday, September 10, 2008 | ||||||
| Execution | ||||||
 Convicted of: The November 1989 murders of Ronald Williamson and Williamson's girlfriend, Traci Lynn Wallace, 26. The two were found shot to death inside Williamson's home in Plano, Texas. Hood was living at Williamson's home and also worked for Williamson. Following the murders, Hood attempted to cash a $500 check forged against Williamson's company account. Hood was arrested in Vergennes, Indiana while driving WIlliamson's car.
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| His previously scheduled execution June 17 was halted when the death warrant expired before it could be carried out. His attorneys announced Aug. 19 that they'd file a petition in civil court asking to take the depositions of former state District Judge Vera Sue Holland and former Collin County District Attorney Tom O’Connell. They've refused to answer questions about whether they may have tainted Hood's 1990 trial by engaging in a romance. | ||||||
| Backpage on Charles Hood | ||||||
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| Gregory Wright | ||||||
| Tuesday, September 9, 2008 | ||||||
| Execution | ||||||
 Convicted of: On 03/21/1997, in DeSoto, Wright broke into the home of a white female. The victim was stabbed to death with a knife. Wright took many items from the home and left the scene in the victim's vehicle.Wright's attorneys say approved DNA tests have excluded him as a contributor to the DNA on the knife used in the slaying. They say the new evidence, plus a recent successful polygraph test, indicate Wright is innocent, as he claims. | ||||||
| Free Greg Wright Web Page | ||||||
| Backpage on Gregory Wright | ||||||
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| Jeffery Wood | |||||||||
| Thursday, August 21, 2008 | |||||||||
 Convicted of: On 01/02/1996, in Kerrville, Wood and one co-defendant robbed a service station, murdering the white male attendant in the process. Wood and the co-defendant took the store safe, a cash box, and a VCR containing a security tape. The value of cash and checks was estimated to be $11,350.Wood was not in the store when his co-defendant pulled the trigger. His case raises issues about the 'party' statute which says anyone involved in a capital offense is equally culpable. | |||||||||
| Save Jeff Wood Website The Other Save Jeff Wood Website Sidebar from the Houston Chronicle, August 20, 2008 At least three Texas death row inmates have been executed under the law of parties, which makes accomplices as liable as the actual killer in capital murder cases. • Carlos Santana, 40, executed in 1993 for the death of 29-year-old security guard Oliver Flores during a failed $1.1 million armored car heist in Houston. His co-defendant, James Meanes, the triggerman, was executed in 1998. • Joseph Starvaggi, 34, executed in 1987 for fatally shooting Montgomery County probation officer John Denson, 43, during a Magnolia home burglary. An accomplice, G.W. Green, 49, was executed in 1991; a third man, Glenn Martin, got life in prison. • Doyle Skillern, 49, was executed in 1985 for the murder of Department of Public Safety narcotics officer Patrick Allen Randel. Skillern claimed an accomplice, Charles Victor Sanne, was the gunman. Sanne got a life sentence. Source: Death Penalty Information Center and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Web site | |||||||||
| Backpage on Jeffery Wood | |||||||||
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| Denard Manns |
| Wednesday, August 20, 2008 |
| Execution |
 Convicted of: On 11/18/1998 in Killeen, Manns entered the home of a 26 year old white female. He sexually assaulted the victim, then shot her in the head and chest, resulting in her death. Manns took credit cards and cash from the residence and fled in the victim's vehicle. |
| A U.S. district judge in Waco, Texas, ordered Manns' execution, originally scheduled for Aug. 20, be delayed until Nov. 13 because he has been without counsel since his attorney was removed from the case. |
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| Michael Rodriguez | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thursday, August 14, 2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Execution | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Convicted of: While on escape from TDCJ, Rivas and 6 co-defendants robbed a sporting goods store at gunpoint. An Irving police officer was murdered outside the store as Rivas and co-defendants left the scene. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Connally Unit, a maximum security prison southeast of San Antonio from which the Texas 7 escaped, had a history of prisoner attacks on guards and was short staffed by almost two dozen correctional officers the day of the breakout, according to published reports following the escape. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Leon Dorsey | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tuesday, August 12, 2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Execution | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Convicted of: On 4/4/1994 during the night in Dallas, Dorsey entered a video store and used a 9 millimeter pistol to rob and kill a 26 year old white male employee and a 20 year old white male employee. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Heliberto Chi | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Thursday, August 7, 2008 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Execution | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 29 years old. Convicted of murdering a clothing-store manager during a robbery seven years ago in Arlington, Texas. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Heliberto Chi is a citizen of Honduras. As in the case of Jose Medellin and the 50 other Mexican citizens covered by the Avena ruling, Chi was not advised of his right to consular notification when he was arrested. Unlike the Mexican citizens, however, Chi is not covered by the International Court of Justice's Avena ruling | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Backpage on Heliberto Chi | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jose Medellin | ||||||||||||
| Tuesday, August 5, 2008 | ||||||||||||
| Listen to the program | ||||||||||||
| Execution | ||||||||||||
| Convicted of gang-related murder of two girls. Was not allowed to contact the Mexican consulate. | ||||||||||||
| Executed shortly before 10PM after 5-4 decision in the Supreme Court. One member of the supreme court, justice Stephen Breyer wrote however, that to permit the execution would place the US "irremediably in violation of international law and breaks our treaty promises." | ||||||||||||
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| Larry Davis | ||||||||||||||||||
| Thursday, July 31, 2008 | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Derrick Sonnier | ||||||||||||||||||
| Wednesday, July 23, 2008 | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Carlton Turner | |||||||||
| Thursday, July 10, 2008 | |||||||||
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| Execution | |||||||||
| Convicted of killing his parents when he was 19 in 1999. | |||||||||
| There was substantial evidence that Carlton was severly abused by his parents. | |||||||||
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Links:
Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty
Death Penalty Information Center
Texas Moratorium Network
Campaign to End the Death Penalty
Stand Down Texas Project