Allen Bridgers Texas Death Row
Allen Bridgers was sentenced to death by the State of Texas for the murder of his girlfriend. According to court documents Allen Bridgers was living with the victim when he pulled out a gun and fatally shot her in the throat. Allen Bridgers would take the victims car and a number of belongings from the home before fleeing. Allen Bridgers would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death
Allen Bridgers 2022 Information
SID Number: 05918398
TDCJ Number: 00999267
Name: BRIDGERS,ALLEN
Race: B
Gender: M
Age: 50
Maximum Sentence Date: DEATH ROW
Current Facility: POLUNSKY
Projected Release Date: DEATH ROW
Parole Eligibility Date: DEATH ROW
Inmate Visitation Eligible: YES
Allen Bridgers More News
On May 25, 1997, the body of Mary Amie was discovered by her niece at her home in Tyler, Texas.1 That same day Bridgers flew from the Dallas-Fort Worth airport to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Three days later on May 28, Detective Charles Morrow of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department received information from Crime Stoppers regarding a possible suspect wanted in Texas for murder. Detective Morrow had no prior knowledge of the Texas murder and did not contact Texas authorities. Rather, he accompanied the individual who had provided the information to Crime Stoppers to the Holiday Park area of Fort Lauderdale. The confidential informant pointed out Bridgers as the person who admitted that he had murdered a woman in Texas.
Detective Morrow waited for additional detectives to arrive and then approached Bridgers, who was lying in the grass. Detective Morrow testified that there were seven plainclothes officers in the vicinity but could not remember how many approached Bridgers. Morrow testified that his badge, gun, and handcuffs were displayed and that it was obvious he was a police officer. Upon approaching Bridgers, Detective Morrow stated that he was conducting an investigation and asked Bridgers to accompany him to the police station. At the suppression hearing, Detective Morrow testified that Bridgers was “nervous, but cooperative” and agreed to go to the police station for questioning, saying “Okay. That’s fine. Let’s go.” He also testified that if Bridgers had refused to accompany him to the station, he would have detained Bridgers and questioned Bridgers in the park. Bridgers was handcuffed and transported to the station in an unmarked car.
Upon arrival at the Fort Lauderdale police station, Detective Morrow obtained Bridgers’s driver’s license which identified him as Allen Bridgers. Next, Detective Morrow took him to the interview room to meet with Detectives Jack King and Jack Gee. Detective Gee had obtained a fax of a warrant for Bridgers’s arrest dated May 27 from the Smith County Sheriff’s Department. According to Detective Morrow’s testimony, it was at this point that Bridgers was under arrest.
When the detectives entered the room, they introduced themselves to Bridgers, and Detective King warned Bridgers from a card issued by the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. The card read as follows:
You have the right to remain silent. Do you understand? Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. Do you understand?
You have the right to the presence of an attorney/lawyer prior to any questioning. Do you understand?
If you cannot afford an attorney/lawyer, one will be appointed for you before any questioning if you so desire. Do you understand?
Allen Bridgers responded affirmatively to each question posed to him. He indicated that he was not sure whether he wanted an attorney. He did ask and was permitted to speak to his mother. After he received the warnings, Bridgers was asked if he knew why he was there and responded that Texas thought he had killed someone. Detective King asked, “Did you?” and Allen Bridgers said, “Yes, you’ve got the right guy.”
After Bridgers finished talking with his mother, the detectives activated the tape recorder and administered the warnings a second time. Then Bridgers gave the audio taped confession at issue in which he admitted murdering Mary Amie and taking her purse, jewelry, and car. He requested two short stops and both requests were honored. Both Detectives King and Gee testified that Bridgers did not appear to be under the influence of any substances and his mental capacity did not seem diminished in any way. They also denied threatening Bridgers or promising him anything in return for his statement.
Prior to trial, Bridgers filed a motion to suppress his confession. The state trial court held a hearing on the motion and denied it. Ultimately, Bridgers’s audio taped confession was admitted at trial over objection. The jury convicted Bridgers of capital murder, and he was sentenced to death. On his automatic direct appeal, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed his conviction and sentence. Bridgers v. State of Texas, No. 73,112 (Tex.Crim.App. October 25, 2000) (unpublished).
