Marion Dudley #999136; January 25, 2006

Dudley declined to make a final statement


Offender information

For additional information, please see this Associated Press article

Shannon Charles Thomas #999213; November 16, 2005

Yes. Man, I just want you to know how much I love them. I want you to be strong and get through this time. Do not fall back. Keep going forward. Don't let this hinder you. Let everybody know I love them (several names listed), Kevin - as well as everyone else in the family. Tell them that I love them and stay strong. This is kind of hard to put words together; I am nervous and it is hard to put my thoughts together. Sometimes you don't know what to say; I hope these words give you comfort. I don't know what to say. I want you to know I love you; just stay strong and don't give up. Let everybody know I love them...and love is unconditional, as Mama has always told us. I may be gone in the flesh, but I am always with you in spirit. I love you.


Offender information

For additional information, please see his Murderpedia entry

Robert Dale Rowell #999104; November 15, 2005

Yes sir. I would like to apologize to the victim's family and all the grief I have caused them. I would like to say I love the girls next to them. Praise the Lord. Let's go, Warden. That's it.


Offender information

For additional information, please see Rowell's Wikipedia entry

Charles Daniel Thacker #999103 ; November 09, 2005

Jack and Irene, I love you guys. Tell my family I love them. I am sorry for the things I have done. I know God will forgive me. Keep track of Danielle for me. I will miss you guys. I love you. I guess that's all.


Offender information

For additional information, please see this Houston Chronicle article

Melvin Wayne White #999317; November 03, 2005

Tell Beth and them I am sorry, truly sorry for the pain that I caused your family. I truly mean that too. She was a friend of mine and I betrayed her trust. I love you all. Tell momma I love her. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want, He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul; he leadeth me in the paths of righeousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. Our Father, who are in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen All right Warden, let's give them what they want.


Offender information

For additional information, please see his Murderpedia entry

Luis Ramirez #999309; October 20, 2005

Yes I do. I would like to address you first. I did not kill your loved one, but I hope that one day you find out who did. I wish I could tell you the reason why, or give some kind of solace; you lost someone you love very much. The same as my family and friends are going to lose in a few minutes. I am sure he died unjustly, just like I am. I did not murder him; I did not have anything to do with his death. And to you my family and friends, I love you dearly. Even though I die, that love for you will never die. Into Your hands, Lord, I commit my spirit. Thank you. Thank you all.


Offender information

For additional information, please see this Associated Press article

Vaughn Ross, #999429; July 18, 2013

Yes, I want to thank my family for supporting me through this. I love ya'll. I don't fear death. I'm fine, I'm OK. To my friends and my loved ones, Miriam, I love you, thanks for being here for me. This is what it is. I know this is hard for ya'll, but we are going to have to go through it. We know the lies they told in court. We know it's not true. I want you to be strong and keep going.


Offender information

For additional information, please see this Associated Press article

Ronald Howard #999069; October 6, 2005

Yes sir, I do. To the victim's family. I hope it helps a little. I do not know how, but I hope it helps. I love you all, all of you. You know I love you. Thank you for bringing my children back to my life. Thank you. I love you all. I love you all very much. Thank you very much. 


Offender information

For additional information, please see this Associated Press article

John Quintanilla, Jr., #999491; July 16, 2013

Yes, I would like to tell my wife that I love her and thank her for all the years of happiness. That will be all, Warden.


Offender information

For additional information, please see this Associated Press article

Frances Newton #922; September 14, 2005

Newton declined to give a final statement


Offender information

For additional information, please see this Associated Press article

Robert Shields #999166; August 23, 2005

Shield declined to make a final statement


Offender information

For additional information, please see this Associated Press article

Gary Sterling #931; August 10, 2005

I would like the Chaplain to say a prayer, not only for me but for the victim's family. For them being misled, I am sorry. That is all I have to say.... I'll put in a good word for everybody


Offender information

For additional information, and additional comments from his last moments, please see this Associated Press article

David Martinez #999288; July 28, 2005

Only the sky and the green grass goes on forever and today is a good day to die.


Offender information

For additional information, please see this Associated Press article

Alexander Martinez #999438; June 7, 2005

Yes. The victim's family is not here so I won't address them. I want to thank my family and friends for everything. My wife, Ailsa, my sister-in-law, Laura - thank you for being here for me. I love you. And thanks for the friends at the Polunsky Unit that helped me get through this that didn't agree with my decision - and still gave me their friendship. I thank them. Warden...


Offender information

For additional information, please see these articles from the Houston Chronicle and the Associated Press 

Richard Cartwright #999224; May 19, 2005

Yes, I do. I just want to thank all my friends and family who gave me support these past eight years. I want to apologize to the victim's family for the pain I caused them. And to everyone at the Polunsky Unit, just keep your heads up and stay strong.


Offender information

For additional information, please see this Corpus Christie Caller-Times story

Bryan Wolfe #999079; May 18, 2005

Yes sir. To Edie, Tom, and and Carma - I love all you all. I appreciate all your support. I love you Margherita, Father Guido, and Father Angelo. I appreciate your spiritual support and all those that were in prayer for me. I will be O.K. I am at peace with all of this and I won't have to wake up in prison any more. I love you all. I totally surrender to the Lord. I am ready, Warden.


Offender information

For additional information, please see this Associated Press article

Lonnie Pursley #999294; May 3, 2005

Yes. I would like to address the victim's family. I received your poem and I am very grateful for your forgiveness. I still want to ask for it anyway. I have Jesus in my heart and I am sorry for any pain I caused you all. Thank you for your forgiveness. I am sorry. Ashlee, Pam -- I am going to miss you all. I love you all. Give everybody my love. Give everybody my love, O.K.? Mother, James, Justin, Corey, Brent, grand-babies and Daddy - I love you Pam. I love you Ashlee, Pammy and Irene. I will see you all on the other side. Couple friends on death row who have helped me; Shy Town and Crazy Jay...I love you all and for all your support. Uncle Ray too. I am saved and I am going home, O.K.? You all stay strong. You all stay strong. That is all.


Offender information

For additional information, please see this Associated Press article

Michael Graczyk

I would just like to take this opportunity to point readers in the direction of a piece published last week by Associated Press writer Michael Graczyk, Recollections from Hundreds of Executions in Texas, following Texas's 500th modern-era execution.

For those that don't know, Mr. Graczyk has witnessed an inordinate number of executions as an AP reporter. He also inspired this blog. During an interview in 2009, Graczyk pointed out the existence of the TDCJ archive of last statements, which I immediately lost myself in. His stories over the years have also been vital in providing additional contextual information posted to Lost Words.

Please, as soon as you're able, read his chronicle of 30 years as a death row witness.