Texas Executions

We executed another murderer here in Texas yesterday. It seems barely a week goes by without at least one murderer getting murdered here by lethal injection.

Yesterday's executed killer was named George Whitaker, III. He was 37. He killed the 16 year old sister of his ex-girl friend. And wounded another sister and the sister's mother.

In Washington I only remember a couple of executions. There it such a big deal that it warrants big headlines on the front page. In Texas the executions are about as common as car wrecks, with the article about any given execution being buried far off the front page.

Many Texans don't realize the rest of America does not execute as often as Texas does. Or that Texas executions are one of the few, if not the only thing, that Texas ranks #1 in the nation.

Below is a list of some of the executed this year in Texas. I got the list from a website about Texas executions. There are several of them, including the official State of Texas Department of Criminal Justice Execution webpage.

I am not against capital punishment. I do think it is very unevenly carried out. In Washington the Green River Killer, Gary Ridgway, got life instead of the death penalty. He murdered dozens upon dozens of women. He should have gotten the death penalty.

11/6/2008
Elkie Taylor
Murder and robbery of a two men in their homes.
10/30/2008
Gregory Wright
Murder and robbery of a woman in her home.
10/28/2008
Eric Nenno
Murder and rape of a 7-year-old girl.
10/21/2008
Joseph Ries
Murder and robbery of a man in his home.
10/16/2008
Kevin Watts
Murder and robbery of three restaurant employees.
10/14/2008
Alvin Kelly
Murder and robbery of a couple and their baby in their home.
9/17/2008
William Murray
Rape, murder, and robbery of a 93-year-old woman.
8/14/2008
Michael Rodriguez
Murder of a policeman while on escape from prison.
8/12/2008
Leon Dorsey
Robbery and murder of two store employees.
8/7/2008
Heliberto Chi
Robbery and murder of a store manager.
8/5/2008
Jose Medellin
Rape and murder of two teenage girls.
7/31/2008
Larry Davis
Murder and robbery of a man in his home.
7/23/2008
Derrick Sonnier
Rape and murder of a woman and murder of her child.
7/10/2008
Carlton Turner
Murder and robbery of his adoptive parents.
6/11/2008
Karl Chamberlain
Rape and murder of a woman in her apartment