texas execution | My Crime Library

Daniel Lopez Texas Execution

Daniel Lopez was executed by the State of Texas for the murder of a police officer. According to court documents Daniel was involved in a police chase when he would strike and kill Corpus Christi Lt. Stuart Alexander. Daniel Lopez would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death. Daniel Lopez asked repeatedly for his execution to be moved up and eventually he would be executed on August 12, 2015

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Texas inmate Daniel Lee Lopez has been put to death for killing a police lieutenant with an SUV during a chase more than six years ago.

Lopez’s lethal injection Wednesday evening was carried out after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected appeals from his attorneys. They disregarded both his desire to die and lower court rulings that Lopez was competent to make that decision.

The 27-year-old was convicted of killing Corpus Christi Lt. Stuart Alexander in March 2009. Alexander was standing in a grassy area on the side of a highway where he had laid down spike strips to try to stop Lopez, who was fleeing from other officers.

Lopez swerved and struck Alexander, killing him.

His execution is the 10th this year in Texas, the most of any state.

https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/texas-news/texas-inmate-executed-for-killing-corpus-christi-officer/142240091

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Gregory Russeau Texas Execution

Gregory Russeau was executed by the State of Texas for the murder of a business owner. According to court documents Gregory Russeau was in the middle of a crack binge when he robbed an auto body repair shop and beat to death the seventy five year old owner James Syvertson. Gregory Russeau would steal the victims car and wallet before fleeing. Gregory Russeau would be sentenced to death and be executed by lethal injection on June 18 2015

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Texas death row inmate Gregory Russeau was executed Thursday evening for the slaying of a 75-year-old East Texas auto repair shop owner 14 years ago during a crack cocaine binge.

Russeau, 45, from Tyler, became the nation’s 17th convicted killer to receive a lethal injection this year and the ninth in Texas.

The U.S. Supreme Court last October refused to review his case, and no additional appeals have been filed for him in the courts. In a 7-0 vote this week, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles rejected a clemency petition for Russeau.

Asked by a warden if he had a final statement, Russeau thanked his family and friends for what they had done for him and thanked three friends who were witnesses “for being here with me so I do not have to transition alone.”

“I’m at peace, I’m good,” he said. “I’m ready to go home.”

He began snoring as the lethal dose of pentobarbital began and all movement stopped within about a minute.

He was pronounced dead at 6:49 p.m. CDT, 21 minutes later.

https://www.businessinsider.com/texas-just-executed-a-man-for-slaying-an-autor-repair-shop-owner-during-a-crack-binge-2015-6

Lester Bower Texas Execution

Lester Bower was executed by the State of Texas for a quadruple murder. According to court documents Lester Bower would shoot and kill Bob Tate, Philip Good, Jerry Brown and Ronald Mayes in an empty airplane hanger. Lester Bower who spent thirty years on death row would maintain his innocence. Lester Bower was executed by lethal injection on June 3, 2015

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The oldest prisoner on death row in Texas was executed tonight.

Lester Bower Jr. received a lethal dose of pentobarbital for killing four people in an airplane hangar on a ranch about 60 miles from Dallas in 1983. He was executed hours after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected an appeal from his lawyers.

“Much has been said about this case,” he said while strapped to the death chamber gurney. “Much has been written about this case. Not all if it has been the truth. But the time for discerning truth is over and it’s time to move on.”

The Associated Press reported Bower snored quietly half a dozen times after receiving the injection and then stopped moving. He was pronounced dead 18 minutes later.

Lester Bower, 67, has maintained his innocence, saying the men were alive when he left after buying an airplane. Prosecutors said he wanted to buy the airplane from one of the men, but in an attempt to hide the purchase from his wife, he went to the hangar and stole it.

Bower initially lied to his wife and investigators. He later admitted that he had been to the ranch where the four victims — Bob Tate, Philip Good, Jerry Brown and Ronald Mayes — were found. Good was a sheriff’s deputy and Mayes was a former police officer.

Parts of the plane were later found in his home and he was unable to produce a receipt for the airplane.

Lester Bower is the eighth inmate in Texas to be executed this year.

https://abcnews.go.com/US/texas-executes-lester-bower-states-oldest-prisoner-death/story?id=31498367

Derrick Charles Texas Execution

Derrick Charles was executed by the State of Texas for a triple murder. According to court documents Derrick Charles went to the home of his fifteen year old ex-girlfriends home and proceeded to bash the teenagers head in. Derrick Charles would then murder Myeshia Bennett mother and Grandmother before fleeing the home. Derrick Charles would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death. Derrick Charles would be executed by lethal injection on May 12, 2015

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A Texas man who killed his 15-year-old ex-girlfriend, her mother and her grandfather was executed Tuesday evening, after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to rule that he was mentally incompetent.

Derrick Charles was the seventh person put to death in Texas this year, at a time when lethal injections are on hold in several states around the nation.

His last statement was, “I’m ready to go home,” and Charles was pronounced dead at 6:36 p.m. CT, according to officials with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Charles, 32, confessed and pleaded guilty to the 2002 triple slaying, telling police how he struggled to strangle teenager Myeshia Bennett and told her, “I guess you don’t want to die” — then bashed her in the face with a stereo speaker and dropped a TV on her head. He also admitted sexually abusing Bennett’s mother as she was dying.

In petitions filed with the U.S. Supreme Court, Charles’ lawyers argued that he suffered from mental illness that dates to childhood and should have been exempt from execution. They said that Texas courts did not provide him with an attorney or other services that would have helped him raise an incompetency claim.

In response, Texas said there was no evidence that Charles suffered from severe mental illness or that he did not understand why he was being executed.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/texas-executes-derrick-charles-killer-who-claimed-incompetence-n357691

Manuel Garza Texas Execution

Manuel Garza was executed by the State of Texas for the murder of a police officer. According to court documents Manuel Garza was being arrested by SWAT members in San Antonio when he managed to get the weapon of Officer John “Rocky” Riojas and would fatally shoot the officer. Manuel Garza would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death. Manuel Garza would be executed by lethal injection on April 15, 2015

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A San Antonio man who fatally shot a SWAT team member with the officer’s own gun more than 14 years ago was executed Wednesday, the sixth convicted murderer put to death in Texas so far this year.

Manuel Garza Jr. received a lethal injection of pentobarbital for killing San Antonio Police Officer John “Rocky” Riojas in February 2001. The U.S. Supreme Court had refused in November to review his case, and no last-day appeals were filed before his execution.

Asked to make a final statement, Manuel Garza said he was sorry for causing pain to his family, friends and “especially police officers.”

“Y’all probably hate me,” he said, looking at three friends of his victim, dressed in their navy blue San Antonio police uniforms. He wished them “peace and love and hope y’all find God like I have and I’ll see you on the other side.”

As the lethal drug began taking effect, Garza uttered: “Here it comes!” His voice rose as he said “Good bye,” and then he let out a howl that was cut short within seconds as he took three deep breaths, then a couple shallow ones. He was pronounced dead 26 minutes later at 6:40 p.m. CDT

Manuel Garza, 35, already had a long criminal record at age 20 when he was stopped by Riojas, who was part of a team targeting property crimes at apartment complexes. Garza ran off and witnesses say that when Riojas caught up with him, the two struggled and Garza grabbed the officer’s gun.

Riojas, 37, was fatally shot in the head. Witnesses said Garza put Riojas’ gun in his pants, cursed at the fallen officer, and ran away. Garza was apprehended a day later at his sister’s apartment after an informant told detectives that someone had tried to sell him the officer’s missing semi-automatic service weapon.

In a statement to detectives, Garza blamed Riojas. “I truly think this was the cop’s fault,” he said. “I don’t see why he wanted to pull out his gun.” Garza said he initially ran because he feared the officer would discover he was wanted on outstanding warrants.

https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/lethal-injection/texas-executes-man-killing-police-officer-n342386