Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Larry White #640; May 22, 1997


I would like to apologize for all of the hurt, pain and disappointment I caused to my family and all my friends. I hope all the veterans and teenagers out there who have a drug problem will get help. I hope the lord will forgive me of all of my sins. I thank Jack and Kathy for being with me. I hope that those who support the Death Row inmates will continue to work and maybe we can get this resolved and do away with the Death Penalty. I hope this is a lot better place where I am going.



For additional information, please see this Associated Press article


Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Bruce Callins #717; May 21, 1997


I want to let all of my people know and everybody who is here and supported me that I love them and wish them all the best.



When the Supreme Court denied to hear an appeal in Callins' case, Justice Harry A. Blackmun filed his now famous dissent, in which he declared that "the death penalty experiment has failed." See here for a NYT article on the dissent, and for the full text please see this link.



Monday, February 27, 2012

Clarence Lackey #591; May 20, 1997


I would like to thank my Lord Jesus Christ for keeping me strong all these years. I would also like to thank my mother for standing by me all these years. I would also like to thank my pen pals, Joe and Camille Tilling and JoAnn for helping me stay strong all these years. I also thank my two lawyers, Rita and Brent, for fighting to keep me alive. I love you, Mom -



For additional information, please see this Associated Press article



Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Clifton E. Belyeu #841; May 16, 1997


[The following was distributed as a typed, signed statement]

First of all I want to thank the LORD, my family and my wife Nora for all the support and encouragement they’ve shown me through all this. I love you!! Now I want to thank all of you that came here today to be with me. I know most of you are here to see me suffer and die but you’re in for a big disappointment because today is a day of joy. Today is the day I’ll be set free from all this pain and suffering. Today I’m going home to HEAVEN to live for all eternity with my HEAVENLY FATHER JESUS CHRIST, and as I lay here taking my last breath, I’ll be praying for all of you because you’re here today with anger and hatred in your hearts letting Satan deceive you into believing that what you’re doing is right and just. GOD help you, because what you’re doing here today and what’s in your hearts here today makes you no better than any man or woman on death-rows across this country. Today you’re committing murder too!!! I pray on my own behalf for forgiveness for any and all of the pain I’ve caused you, I pray that some day you’ll realize your own mistakes and ask GOD to forgive you as I have, because there is no peace without GOD’s forgiveness.

Amen.


Offender Information


For additional information, please see this Associated Press article


Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Friday, February 17, 2012

Terry Washington #884; May 6, 1997


Washington declined to make a final statement




We've had trouble locating contemporaneous reporting about Washington's execution, but his and other death row inmates' mental retardation became a campaign issue in the 2000 election and beyond. Please see this Atlantic Magazine article that makes reference to Washington's case




Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Kenneth Gentry #760; April 16, 1997


Thank the Lord for the past 14 years that have allowed me to grow as a man –

To J.D.’s family, I am sorry for the suffering you have gone through the past 14 years. I hope you can get some peace tonight.

To my family, I am happy to be going home to Jesus.

Sweet Jesus, here I come. Take me home. I am going your way.


Offender Information

For more information, please see this Associated Press article



Monday, February 13, 2012

Billy Joe Woods #552; April 14 1997


Woods declined to make a final statement



For additional information, please see this LA Times article, which uses the Woods execution as a focal point to discuss the death penalty in Texas


Friday, February 10, 2012

David Spence #773; April 3, 1997


Yes, I do. First of all, I want you to understand I speak the truth when I say I didn’t kill your kids. Honestly I have not killed anyone. I wish you could get the rage from your hearts and you could see the truth and get rid of the hatred.

I love you all – (names of children) – Corey, Steve (garbled) – This is very important. I love ya’ll and I miss ya’ll. O.K., now I’m finished.


Offender Information

For additional information, please see this NYT article, as well as these Houston Chronicle articles, and this true crime book




Thursday, February 9, 2012

David Herman #999003; April 2, 1997


It was horrible and inexcusable for me to take the life of your loved one and to hurt so many mentally and physically. I am here because I took a life and killing is wrong by an individual and by the state, and I am sorry we are here but if my death gives you peace and closure then this is all worthwhile. To all of my friends and family, I love you and I am going home -



For more information, please see this Mike Graczyk article




Wednesday, February 8, 2012

John K. Barefield #844; March 12, 1997


Tell Mama I love her.




Please see these Houston Chronicle and New York Times articles for more information about the crime, the execution, and the later days of one of Barefield's accomplices



Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Richard Brimage, Jr. #899; February 10, 1997


Not from me but I have a message to you from God. Save the children. Find one who needs help and make a small sacrifice of your own wealth and save the innocent ones. They are the key for making the world a better place.


For additional information, please see this Associated Press article


Monday, February 6, 2012

Joe F. Gonzales, Jr. #999177; September 18, 1996


There are people all over the world who face things worse than death on a daily basis, and in that sense I consider myself lucky.

I cannot find the words to express the sadness I feel for bringing this hurt and pain on my loved ones.

I will not ask forgiveness for the decisions I have made in this judicial process, only acceptance.

God bless you all.


Offender Information

For additional information about Gonzales's short stay on the Walls Unit, please see this Associated Press article



Thursday, February 2, 2012

Leo Jenkins #967; February 9, 1996



I just want to say I believe in Jesus Christ. I'm sorry for the Kelleys' loss, but this will not bring their children back. The state is wrong to execute me. There is no way to justify this. Tell mama I love her. I'm ready, man.


[The dying man coughed and breathed heavily. He mouthed ""I love you" to his girlfriend]





For additional information, please see this Houston Chronicle article


Wednesday, February 1, 2012