texas death row | My Crime Library

Arturo Aranda Texas Death Row

Arturo Aranda was sentenced to death by the State of Texas for the murder of a law enforcement officer. According to court documents Arturo Aranda and his brother were driving a station wagon with over five hundred pounds of marijuana in the back when they were pulled over by the law enforcement officer. Arturo Aranda would open fire and would strike and kill the officer. Arturo Aranda would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death

Arturo Aranda 2022 Information

SID Number: 01356345

TDCJ Number: 00000636

Name: ARANDA,ARTURO D

Race: H

Gender: M

Age: 73

Maximum Sentence Date: DEATH ROW

Current Facility: POLUNSKY

Projected Release Date: DEATH ROW

Parole Eligibility Date: DEATH ROW

Inmate Visitation Eligible: YES

Arturo Aranda More News

The record reveals that Laredo police officer Candelario Viera, on patrol about midnight July 31, 1976, observed a station wagon with out-of-town license plates traveling toward the Rio Grande River banks. Being an experienced narcotics officer, and familiar with the area, he knew the vehicle was heading toward a known narcotics crossing point. The station wagon arrived at the river. Two persons emerged and walked to the water’s edge. After a few moments, the two men returned to the vehicle and drove it to the water. Subsequently, Viera saw the station wagon leave the river, noting, however, it rode lower than it had on its arrival. He also saw several burlap sacks in the station wagon which had not been there before. Viera followed the vehicle and radioed for assistance to make a stop. At a city intersection Laredo police officer Pablo Albidrez stopped his patrol car in front of the station wagon and Viera pulled his car up behind it. In the ensuing shootout, Albidrez was mortally wounded. Appellant was arrested and later identified in court as having fired the fatal bullet.

https://casetext.com/case/aranda-v-state-12

Juan Alvarez Texas Death Row

Juan Alvarez was sentenced to death by the State of Texas for a double murder. According to court documents Juan Alvarez would drive past a birthday party where he would open fire striking and killing two people. Juan Alvarez would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death.

Juan Alvarez 2022 Information

Name	Alvarez, Juan Carlos
TDCJ Number	999332
Date of Birth	03/09/1977
Date Received	11/17/1999
Age (when Received)	22
Education Level (Highest Grade Completed)	11
Date of Offense	06/06/1998 and 06/17/1998
	Age (at the time of Offense)	21
	County	Harris
	Race	Hispanic
	Gender	Male
	Hair Color	Black
	Height (in Feet and Inches)	5′ 7″
	Weight (in Pounds)	157
	Eye Color	Brown
	Native County	San Luis (Mexico)
	Native State	n/a

Juan Alvarez More News

On June 6, 1998, a group of people celebrated a birthday party outside an apartment complex frequented by individuals associated with local street gangs. After a procession of five cars rolled up to the apartment complex, gunshots rang out. Bullets struck numerous people and killed two men, Adrian Aguirre and Michael Aguirre. Bullet casings found in the street were consistent with having been fired from an assault rifle and a .380.

Eyewitness testimony established Alvarez’s identity as one of the gunmen. Miguel Reyes, a Southwest Cholos gang member, testified at trial that Juan Alvarez directed and participated in the Prestwood shooting. Reyes met up with Alvarez, who was known as “El Chuco,” and the men went to look for members of La Primera. As they traveled to various locations and met up with other members of the Southwest Cholos, Alvarez rode as a passenger in his maroon, four-door vehicle. Reyes explained that gang members then drove in a five-car procession to the Prestwood apartment complex, with Alvarez saying that they would “shoot at the guys from La Primera; at whomever.” Tr. Vol. 19 at 191-93. The gang members found a large number of men in the parking lot clothed in white, the color worn by members of La Primera gang. Alvarez opened his car door, put a weapon similar to an AK-47 to his shoulder, and walked to the front of the vehicle. Alvarez opened fire. Only one other gang member, Santos “Spooky” Flores, shot at the men.

The police arrested Reyes a few days after the shooting in the company of Flores. A gun forensically tied to the murder was found in the front seat of the car in which he was driving. The State charged Reyes with engaging in organized crime in connection with the shootings, but agreed to reduce the charge to aggravated assault for his testimony. Tr. Vol. 20 at 12-14.

Forensic evidence confirmed Juan Alvarez’s involvement in the crime. The police recovered bullets forensic evidence showing that 7.62mm and .380 bullets had been fired at the scene. The victims had been killed by bullets fired from either a .38 or .357 revolver that was never recovered. The police eventually recovered a Russian Norinco assault rifle (often mistaken for an AK-47) from Alvarez’s closet which fired 7.62mm rounds. Ten spent casings recovered from the scene matched Alvarez’s weapon.

Juan Alvarez provided the police a videotaped statement which suggested his involvement in the Prestwood shooting. In that statement, Alvarez professed his membership in the Southwest Cholos. He admitted that he used his car in the Prestwood shooting. He admitted that he knew that his fellow gang members would fire at what they believed were members of a rival gang. Alvarez admitted that he had furnished the assault rifle for the drive-by shooting, but denied firing a weapon himself.

The State of Texas charged fellow gang member Flores with the offense of felony murder for his role in the Prestwood shootings. Flores provided the police a statement that, in a manner similar to the statement given by Alvarez, spread blame to his fellow gang memebrs: “[Flores] does not deny he was at the scene of the shooting, but contends that he was not involved in the shooting.” Santos Flores v. State, 2001 WL 842020, at *1 (Tex. App. – [Hou] July 26, 2001). Flores told the police that Alvarez and Reyes “did all the shooting.” Id. Flores’s confession did not come before the jury in Alvarez’s case.

Witnesses also tied Juan Alvarez to the Woodfair shooting. Flores’ girlfriend testified that she saw him and Alvarez loading weapons before the Woodfair shooting. Alvarez carried a shotgun and assault rifle. They left in Alvarez’s car. When the two men returned later that night, Alvarez had what appeared to be blood stains on his shirt.

Brandy Varela, sister of sixteen-year-old victim José Varela, testified that on June 17, 1998, she went outside her apartment to see her brother and his friend Hugo Perez. As her brother took a jack to help some men with a flat tire, she sensed someone coming toward her. She turned around and saw a man she later identified as Alvarez holding a shotgun. Alvarez yelled “Southwest Cholos, puto” and fired. She ran. A neighbor heard the gunshots and saw a man carrying a shotgun get into a car similar to that owned by Alvarez. When Brandy Varela returned she found the two men dead. José Varela had been killed by shotgun wounds to the face and back.

The police recovered a shotgun from Alvarez’s apartment. Kristi Kim, a DNA analyst with the Houston Police Department Crime Lab, testified that the blood on the shotgun had DNA patterns consistent with Jose Varela’s blood.

In his statement, Juan Alvarez denied firing a weapon at the Woodfair shooting. The State, however, used several of his admissions to suggest his involvement in the crime, such as that: his maroon Nissan Altima was used in the shooting; his wife drove and he rode in the front seat to the location; they carried a shotgun and assault rifle; and he knew gang members planned on shooting somebody, most likely a member of the La Primera gang. The State used these admissions to argue that, even if Alvarez did not pull the trigger, he was guilty of capital murder under Texas’ law of parties. Clerk’s Record at 481.

https://casetext.com/case/alvarez-v-davis-9

Tyrone Williams Texas Death Row

Tyrone Williams was sentenced to death by the State of Texas for a double murder. According to court documents Tyrone Williams would break into a home where he would stab two women to death. Tyrone Williams would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death

Tyrone Williams 2022 Information

Name	Williams, Tyrone Jamaal
TDCJ Number	999624
Date of Birth	03/19/1986
Date Received	11/22/2021
Age (when Received)	35
Education Level (Highest Grade Completed)
Date of Offense	06/17/2016
	Age (at the time of Offense)	30
	County	Hunt
	Race	Black
	Gender	Male
	Hair Color	Black
	Height (in Feet and Inches)	6′ 0″
	Weight (in Pounds)	185
	Eye Color	Brown
	Native County	Hays
	Native State	Texas

Tyrone Williams More News

A jury has ruled Tyrone Jamaal Williams should be executed for the murders of a Hunt County woman and her mother in 2016.The jury in the 196th District Court deliberated for about four hours before returning with the decision at around 8:30 p.m. Thursday, according to Hunt County District Attorney Noble D. Walker R.“This was an extremely brutal crime that unquestionably warranted the death penalty,” Walker said. “We certainly respect the jury for their very thoughtful deliberation and pray this outcome will bring Vickie and Nicole’s family some peace after having gone through so much since this offense was committed.”Opening arguments and the start of testimony in the trial began Nov. 1.

Williams, 35, of San Marcos, had pleaded not guilty to an indictment with two counts of capital murder in connection with the slayings of Nichole Elizabeth Gonzales, 27, and her mother, Vicki Ann Gonzales, 51 at a residence just outside of Commerce.A 911 call came in at around 1:20 p.m. June 17, 2016 from Vicki Gonzales, who was screaming for help and calling out Williams’ name. The call came from a home in the 7300 block of State Highway 50.The Commerce Police Department was the first agency on the scene and found the women had been slain. Williams’ vehicle was found about three miles away from the home.A search began for Williams with the assistance of the Commerce Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice K-9 search team.At approximately 11 p.m. June 17, 2016 the Commerce Police Department received a call of a suspicious person in the 2700 block of State Highway 24/50, at the intersection of Live Oak Street.

When contacted by officers, Williams allegedly gave officers his brother’s name, but Williams’ identification was found in his possession.Williams was taken into custody without incident.Williams worked as a long haul trucker for a Fort Worth company.“First Assistant District Attorney Steven Lilley and Assistant District Attorney Allison Flanagan worked tirelessly over the last several months preparing this case,” Walker said. “They represented the State at an extremely high level during both the guilt/innocence and punishment phase of the trial. Additionally, we are grateful for the work done on this case by the Texas Rangers, Hunt County Sheriff’s Office, and the Commerce Police Department.

The guilty verdict and death sentence were a direct result of their thorough investigation.”Mabel Jean Gonzales of Austin was indicted in June 2017 on one count of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence with the intent to impair. Gonzales pleaded guilty in April 2018 to a lesser charge of attempting to tamper with or fabricating evidence.The attempting to tamper charge carries a maximum punishment upon conviction of from two to 10 years in prison and an optional fine of up to $10,000.In a criminal complaint filed as part of court records, the Hunt County Sheriff’s Office revealed Gonzales was Williams’ girlfriend and alleged that after she visited Williams in the jail, Gonzales drove to a location near the murder scene and removed items from the site.

https://www.heraldbanner.com/news/hunt-county-jury-returns-death-penalty-as-punishment-in-2016-double-murder/article_76bf6974-48e2-11ec-9bad-1f7d374a5e60.html

Richard Andrade Texas Execution

Richard Andrade was executed by the State of Texas for the sexual assault and murder of a woman. According to court documents Richard Andrade would sexually assault and stab to death the victim. Richard Andrade would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death. Richard Andrade was executed by lethal injection on December 18 1986

Richard Andrade More News

A 25-year-old man whose hand-printed appeal was rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court was executed by injection early Thursday for the rape-murder of a woman he stabbed 14 times and left in a pool of blood.

Richard Andrade died at 12:32 a.m. for the 1984 slaying of Cordelia Mae Guevara, said Corrections Department spokesman Charles Brown.

After the needle was inserted into his right arm next to a tattoo of a woman’s head, Andrade turned away from the witnesses and shook his head when asked if he had a final statement.

His attorney, Eric Brown, had said Monday that Andrade had run out of legal avenues. Andrade filed his own requests for stays. He was turned down Tuesday by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, a federal judge and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, and Wednesday by the high court.

Andrade never asked Gov. Mark White for a reprieve. White has refused to grant clemency in previous death penalty cases.

The Supreme Court rejected by a 7-2 vote the request for a stay in which Andrade claimed he had been denied effective legal help and needed more time to appeal his case. Only Justices William J. Brennan and Thurgood Marshall, who oppose capital punishment under all circumstances, voted to spare Andrade’s life.

″Justice is being done,″ said the victim’s sister, Catalina Meza. ″He should go ahead and die. That is what he rightfully deserves. The kind of murder he committed is only done by a person who is very sick.″

Andrade selected a final meal of pizza, pinto beans, Spanish rice and cake. He requested no personal witnesses to his execution.

His mood during the day Wednesday was described by prison officials as calm. He spent the afternoon visiting with four of his brothers.

A fellow death row inmate, Raymond Landry, who has a January execution date, said Andrade said goodbye Wednesday morning while guards were putting shackles on his wrists and ankles for transfer to the deathhouse holding cell.

″The expression on his face – that’s all you needed to know,″ Landry said. ″He had the expression on his face like he had given up hope. His eyes glazed up and he said ‘I’m ready to go, man.’ I don’t think there were any tears but the expression on his face showed they weren’t far behind.″

Andrade refused repeated requests for interviews. But Landry said Andrade had said ″he was afraid of them sticking a needle in his arm.″

Andrade, whose record included burglary, assault, theft and parole violation, would be the 10th Texas inmate to be executed this year and 20th since the state resumed executions in 1982. Both figures are the highest in the nation.

No other inmate had spent less time on death row in Texas before an execution date than Andrade, who was imprisoned 25 months ago for Ms. Guevara’s killing.

Brown, his attorney, said the use of computerized court records and accelerated action by the Texas attorney general’s office led to the relatively quick execution date.

During the punishment phase of his trial, Andrade testified he suffered a blackout as a result of alcohol and heroin intoxication the night Ms. Guevara was attacked.

Ms. Guevara, 28, manager of the Chiquita Fajita Lounge in Corpus Christi, was stabbed at least 14 times with a pocketknife, raped and left on the floor at the club in a pool of blood.

https://apnews.com/article/fb23c45dc6a1ebef711708332910424f

Michael Evans Texas Execution

Michael Evans was executed by the State of Texas for a double murder. According to court documents Michael Evans and Earl Stanley would rob a couple and in the process shoot and kill them. Michael Evans would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death. Earl Stanley would receive multiple life sentences. Michael Evans would be executed by lethal injection on December 4 1986

Michael Evans More News

Former mechanic Michael Wayne Evans was executed early today for fatally shooting a church pianist and slashing her face with a carpet knife in a $40 robbery while she prayed, ‘God forgive him.’

Evans, the ninth Texas inmate put to death this year, prayed for his own salvation with the encouragement of a prison chaplain moments before the lethal injection was administered.

‘I just want to say that I’m sorry for what I done, and that I pray that I’m forgiven,’ he said, pausing briefly.

‘I don’t hold nothing against no one at all. Everyone done treated me pretty well. I know this is not easy. I’m sorry.’

Evans then closed his eyes and lay quietly on the gurney. He was pronounced dead by injection at 12:21 a.m.

Evans, 30, lost his final bid for a stay of execution about eight hours earlier when the Supreme Court, on a 5-4 vote, refused to intervene. Earlier Wednesday, a federal judge in Dallas and the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans also refused to block the execution.

The condemned man’s attorney had argued that the former mechanic should not be executed because he was insane

Evans spent most of Wednesday sleeping and responded only with ‘OK’ when told courts had denied his requests for a stay.

He spoke by telephone with his mother, his attorney and a friend in the final four hours before his death, but he requested no personal witnesses for his execution. He also refused a last meal.

Evans was condemned for the June 28, 1977, slaying of Elvira Guerrero, 36, a pianist for the Second Mexican Baptist Church in Dallas.

Evans told police in a confession that Guerrero prayed, ‘God help him, God help him, God forgive him,’ while he slashed her face from chin to forehead with a carpet knife after stealing $40 in church collections and shooting her.

He later recanted the confession.

Slain with Guerrero was and her fiance, Mario Garza, 28. The couple were accosted by two men and kidnapped shortly after leaving a Sunday night church service and driven to southern Dallas County where they were shot to death and their throats slashed.

Evans and a companion, Earl Stanley Smith, both were charged with capital murder in the slayings. Smith pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison.

A state appeals court overturned Evans’ original capital murder conviction in August 1980 because of improper jury selection. He was convicted a second time on Oct. 8, 1981.

https://www.upi.com/Archives/1986/12/04/Evans-executed-for-murder-of-church-pianist/2147534056400/