Texas Executes 16th Prisoner This Year
With Lionell Roderiguez's Execution, Texas Remains the Nation's Most Prolific
Roderiguez was executed by lethal injection, and pronounced dead 8 minuets after the drugs took effect, at 6:19 PM.
Altogether there has been 24 executions in the United States, with Texas leading the nation with 16. Ohio and Indiana both have executed 2 inmates, while Oklahoma, Alabama, Tennessee, and Arizona 1 each.
Roderiguez was convicted and sentenced to die for the carjacking and murder of Tracey Gee, about 17 years ago, according to Associated press writer, Michael Graczyk. At the time of the murder, Roderiguez was out on parole from a 5 month prison term for burglary and drug possession from a Texas prison.
According to Associated Press, Roderiguez was out driving around with his cousin James Gonzales when the two decided to "act out their fantasies, they had seen in the movies". As they pulled up along a car at a stoplight in Houston, Roderiguez decided he wanted the car, since his was low on gas. With a stolen rifle he shot Tracy Gee 22, in the head, pushed her body to the pavement and ran over her as he sped away.
Gonzales was then stopped by police in his own car, and fearing he was stopped for the murder, and not a broken taillight, he told the officer about the murder. Roderiguez was found in Gee's car, and confessed to capital murder. Gonzales received a prison term of 40 years for his part in the carjacking.
On his gurney from the death chamber, Roderiguez, 36 apologized to the victims family, and is quoted by Associated Content "I'm responsible, I'm response, I'm sorry to you all, this never should have happened" Looking toward his own family Roderiguez said, "We'll see each other again." He said a prayer, mouthed a kiss to his family and closed his eyes.
In April of this year The Supreme Court refused to review Roderiguez case, and in 1993 his conviction had been overturned by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals due to a problem in jury selection.
On June 21, Texas is planning to execute it's 17th prisoner. Gilberto Reyes, for the March 1998 murder of Yvette Barraz.
Source:
Associated Press, Texas man executed for fatal carjacking, http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/4907453.html
Published by Dee
I am a prison activist/advocate writing about prison issues, hoping to make awareness, and bring reform. One out of every thirty-two people in the USA are currently on parole, probation or in prison. I am ow... View profile
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11 Comments
Post a CommentIf the justice system is flawed, fix it. But we can't let guilty people get away with violent crimes ie. murder, rape, robbery etc.
America has over 3,000 people on death row. I think most of them are in there for the right reason. Would you want them loose and living in your neighborhood?
How bad does someone have to be before they can be executed? No one asks this question. Capital punishment was stopped in the 70s, but it returned in the 80s. I guess it came back because it worked. Sorry, some folks just can't live in society without harming others.
sometimes inmates kill other inmates, but the ones on death row are isolated from each other.
sometimes inmates kill other inmates, but the ones on death row are isolated from each other.
I would be all for the death sentence IF I had any faith at all in the US Criminal Justice system. I do not.
To guy, why is death the only guarantee of public safety? Surely if he was in prison the rest of his life he couldn't kill again, right?
another piece of human trash rehabilitated in the only way in which a guarantee of public safety can be given...
Imagine, 16 so far and the year has not ended. Most staes execute none, or very few. Does anyone else think something is very wrong with Texas's death sentencing?
The death sentence is a shame!! Another great article Dee.