Donald Bess Texas Death Row
Donald Bess was sentenced to death by the State of Texas for the sexual assault and murder of Angela Somata. According to court documents Donald Bess would break into Angela Somata residence where he would sexually assault and murder her in 1984. Donald Bess would not be arrested until 2008. At the time Donald Bess was a convicted rapist out on parole. Donald Bess would be convicted and sentenced to death
Donald Bess 2021 Information
| Name | Bess, Donald Andrew | |
| TDCJ Number | 999559 | |
| Date of Birth | 09/01/1948 | |
| Date Received | 09/27/2010 | |
| Age (when Received) | 62 | |
| Education Level (Highest Grade Completed) | 12th Grade | |
| Date of Offense | 10/13/1984 | |
| Age (at the time of Offense) | 36 | |
| County | Dallas | |
| Race | White | |
| Gender | Male | |
| Hair Color | Brown | |
| Height (in Feet and Inches) | 6′ 0″ | |
| Weight (in Pounds) | 364 | |
| Eye Color | Green | |
| Native County | Jefferson County | |
| Native State | Arkansas |
Donald Bess More News
A man convicted of raping and murdering an SMU student in 1984 lost his appeal in the Texas Court of Appeals. He will remain on death row.
Donald Bess was sentenced to death in 2010 for raping and murdering 20-year-old SMU student Angela Samota in October 1984. Police solved the case in 2008 when Dallas Police matched Bess’ DNA to Samota’s slaying, according toTheDallas Morning News. The DNA technology was not available at the time of the rape-slaying.
Bess entered Samota’s apartment asking to use the phone and bathroom in her off-campus apartment. He then sexually assaulted her and stabbed her, according toThe News.
He was out on parole in 1985 for aggravated rape and aggravated kidnapping when he raped another woman, according to The News. He was sentenced to life in prison.
His death sentence came in 2010. The jury deliberated for less than an hour, The News reported.
Bess does not have an execution date set. He could still file appeals in federal courts, according to NBC-DFW.
