August 2003 Executions

Two killers were executed in August 2003. They had murdered at least 5 people.
Five killers were given a stay in August 2003. They have murdered at least 10 people.

Date of scheduled execution	State	Victim name	Inmate name	Status
August 1, 2003	Indiana	John Rease Henrietta Rease	Darnell Williams	stayed
John and Henrietta Rease, an elderly couple who lived in Gary, Indiana, cared for, fed, and housed foster children at their home in exchange for $160 per month per child. One such foster child was Gregory Rouster, who lived with the Reases from November 1985 until his eighteenth birthday on February 7, 1986. Four months later, the Reases were robbed and shot to death in their home. Police immediately arrested Rouster and his three friends, Darnell Williams, Theresa Newsome, and Edwin Taylor (another foster child living with the Reases), and charged them each with two counts of felony murder. Taylor pleaded guilty and did not proceed to trial. On the night of August 12, 1986, Williams, Rouster, Newsome, and Kim Toney went to the Reases’ house to collect money that Rouster believed the Reases owed to him. A seventeen-year-old foster child who lived with the Reases at the time that the crimes were committed testified that when Williams and Rouster got to the house, they went into a back room with Henrietta Rease and got into an argument with her about whether the Reases owed Rouster money. After Henrietta Rease asked Rouster to leave the house, the foster child heard Williams say, “I won’t let her, she’s doing nothing but gypping him out of the money.” The 17-year-old then heard a series of gunshots and went upstairs into the attic to hide. While in the attic, he heard a conversation take place between Williams, Rouster, and Taylor, whereby Williams and Rouster agreed to rob the Reases at gunpoint. The witness then ran downstairs to hide behind a stairway and heard Williams and Rouster bring the Reases into the bedroom, at which point Henrietta Rease told Williams not to hit John Rease. Next, he heard Williams state, “it’s your time” and heard Rouster reply, “waste them.” The witness then heard a second series of gunshots coming from the bedroom, at which point he ran out of the house and flagged down a police car. Several neighborhood teenagers testified about the events that they witnessed that night and corroborated the Rease’s foster son's testimony regarding two series of gunshots coming from the Reases’ house shortly after Williams and Rouster entered the house. Moreover, the teenagers testified about a third series of gunshots that came from the Reases’ house when Rouster and Newsome were in the Reases’ front yard, but while Williams presumably was still inside of the house.3 The teenagers’ testimony was corroborated by the mother of one of the teens, who explained that she saw Williams and Rouster enter the Reases’ house, heard two series of gunshots, and also heard a third series of gunshots coming from the Reases’ house while Rouster and Newsome were outside. Lake County crime technician Ronald Lach searched the Reases’ house for evidence later that night and discovered the Reases’ bodies lying on the bedroom floor. Lach also found several live .30 caliber cartridges in the Reases’ bedroom as well as several fired .22 caliber and .32 caliber shells. Finally, he found a .22 caliber pistol in the bedroom and a .32 caliber pistol in the Reases’ backyard that were later determined to have fired the gunshots that killed the Reases. Lake County Police Officer Timothy Lukasik arrested Williams that same night. At that time, Williams had a black leather pouch with him that contained, among other things, $232 in cash, a wallet with no money in it, and a .30 caliber live round of ammunition. During the sentencing hearing, Taylor testified about the following events that took place at the Reases’ house on August 12, 1986: Henrietta Rease asked Williams and Rouster to leave after they accused her of keeping money purportedly owed to Rouster. Williams then pointed a gun at Taylor and asked him where the Reases kept their money. Taylor answered that the Reases kept their money on the bedroom dresser, to which Williams replied, “you better not be lying.” Taylor then ran to his friend’s house to call the police and heard several gunshots coming from the Reases’ house. Taylor also testified that Williams was the last person he saw with a gun. The State also introduced evidence that Williams had previously participated in a robbery similar to the one committed against the Reases. Williams presented testimony that he was employed, had graduated high school, and had lived with his mother for most of his life. Further, friends and family members testified about Williams’ character, claiming that he was a kind and responsible young man. The jury ultimately recommended the death penalty for both Williams and Rouster. Thereafter, the trial judge indicated that the State had proved three aggravating factors 1) Williams intentionally killed John Rease while committing the crime of robbery; 2) Williams intentionally killed Henrietta Rease while committing the crime of robbery; and 3) Williams had been convicted of multiple murders—that of both John and Henrietta Rease. He also addressed the potential mitigating circumstances and held that none applied. The judge then sentenced both Williams and Rouster to death. UPDATE: Governorn Frank O'Bannon issued a 60-day stay of execution for Darnell Williams, who was scheduled for execution August 1 for taking part in the murders of an elderly couple in Gary. The governor issued the stay to allow for DNA testing. Appeals court judges rejected requests by defense lawyers to retest biological material associated with the case. Defense lawyers claim blood found on Williams' clothing is not that of the victims. At his trial, prosecutors said the blood was from the victims.

Date of scheduled execution	State	Victim name	Inmate name	Status
August 6, 2003	Texas	Henry Truevillian, 20 Roderick Moore, 24 LaTanya Boone, 21	Curtis Moore	stayed
Darrel Hoyle and his friends Henry Truevillian and Roderick Moore (no relation) met Curtis Moore late in the evening of Nov. 29, 1995. Curtis was with his nephew, Anthony Moore, then 17 years old. The five men agreed to meet to make a cocaine deal at a house on Pate Street that belonged to Curtis' sister. Henry and Roderick rode with Darrel in his beige, four-door Cutlass and Curtis and Anthony rode in a blue Oldsmobile that Curtis said he borrowed from a friend. When they arrived at the Pate Street house, Darrel and Anthony waited outside and talked. The three other men went inside. About five minutes later, Darrel and Anthony entered the house. The five men talked in the kitchen for a while and then Curtis and Anthony went into the bathroom together. Moments later, Curtis came out of the bathroom shouting, "This is a jack," which in street language means a robbery. Curtis took $150 from Darrel and $5 from Henry. While Curtis held a gun on Darrel, Henry and Roderick, he told Anthony to tie up the three men. Anthony tied the victims' hands and feet. Curtis then put Darrel and Henry in the trunk of Darrel's car. From what Darrel could ascertain from inside the trunk, Curtis drove, Anthony rode in the front passenger seat and Roderick rode in the back seat. After a while, the car stopped and Darrel heard Curtis say that the car was out of gas. Curtis went to get gasoline and told Anthony to keep the gun pointed at Roderick. Curtis returned about 10 minutes later, put the gasoline in the car, and drove on. The car stopped sometime later and Darrel assumed that they were at Roderick's house because he heard Roderick's girlfriend, LaTanya Boone, scream after hearing a gun shot. Darrel assumed that LaTanya and Roderick were put into another car because he did not hear them again. The car stopped again, this time Curtis asked Darrel and Henry if they were trying to get loose. Curtis then drove on. Around 2:00 a.m. on November 30, the car stopped again on Wilbarger Street in southeast Tarrant County. Darrel heard Curtis get out of the car and moments later the trunk opened. Curtis fired a gun at Darrel and Henry and then closed the trunk. Darrel heard Henry say, "Oh, I'm hit." Curtis opened the trunk again and poured gasoline on Darrel and Henry. Curtis closed the trunk until it was open only enough to stick in his hand. Darrel heard the flick of the lighter and then his and Henry's clothes caught on fire. Curtis tried to close the trunk but Darrel kicked until it opened. Darrel pulled Henry and himself out of the trunk and ran. When he realized that he was on fire, Henry dropped to the ground and rolled. Curtis then gave chase, while Darrel ran into the woods on the other side of the street. When Curtis caught up to him, he stepped on Darrel's neck and threatened his life. Darrel played dead and Curtis left him alone and walked back to the cars. Darrel then got up, ran farther into the woods and found a hiding place. He watched his car burn and then saw what appeared to be an explosion. When Curtis realized that Darrel was gone, Curtis removed his shirt and yelled that he was going to kill Darrel. Darrel heard sirens and saw Curtis run toward the highway. He saw a blue Oldsmobile that looked like the one Curtis had been driving earlier, drive toward the highway. When the fire trucks and police arrived, Darrel ran up to them. He was able to tell a fireman his and Henry's name, but was unable to tell them anything else because he was in shock and burned on about 60 percent of his body. Truevillian died later of multiple gunshot wounds in the chest and abdomen, burns and smoke inhalation, authorities said. Later that morning, the police were called to a crime scene on David Strickland Street, not far from the Wilbarger site, where the bodies of LaTanya and Roderick were found shot with a 9 mm gun. Darrel gave a statement to the police when he regained consciousness six days after he was shot and burned. When Darrel gave his statement to the police, he told them Anthony's street name -- Kojak -- and that Anthony attended O.D. Wyatt High School. He also told police that he did not know Curtis' name, but he knew Curtis drove a pink truck. With that information, the police were able to find Curtis and Anthony and arrest them on December 12. After his arrest, Anthony led police to the 9 mm gun that a ballistics expert testified had been used to kill LaTanya and Roderick. At age 12, Curtis Moore was detained for running away, resulting in confinement at a juvenile detention center. He was subsequently released to his parents. He was again detained for incorrigibility at age 13, resulting in a voluntary commitment to Boysville Juvenile Home in San Antonio, Texas. He was released to his parents after six months. At age 15, Moore was detained for theft of a bicycle and committed to the Texas Youth Commission. After six months, he was released on juvenile parole, which he successfully completed. In 1985, Moore was sentenced to six years for robbery by threats. He was released on mandatory supervision in March of 1987, but was returned to custody in September 1987 with a subsequent two year sentence for theft of property over $750. He was released on parole in July 1988. Moore returned to TDCJ as a parole violator in October 1988 on a 15-year sentence for theft from a person. He was released on parole in April 1990, but returned as a parole violator in January of 1991 on a 15-year sentence for possession of cocaine and possession of a weapon by a felon (.357 magnum pistol). He returned as a parole violator in November of 1996 for the current offense. TDCJ records indicate that while incarcerated, Moore had one minor and one major violation for refusing to groom. Moore also stabbed another inmate in the jaw with an ink pen during a game of dominoes, exclaiming, "I am going to kill your punk ass like I killed your home boys." This is a very, very bad man," said Chip Wilkinson, the Tarrant County assistant district attorney who is handling the final stages of Moore's case. Anthony Moore, now 24, pled guilty to two counts of murder under a plea agreement and is serving two life prison sentences.

Date of scheduled execution	State	Victim name	Inmate name	Status
August 6, 2003	Texas	Luis Daniel Blanco, 3	Jose Rivera	stayed
Condemned child killer Jose Rivera was given a reprieve when a federal appeals court blocked his execution. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans issued the stay based on Rivera's lawyers' claims that Rivera is mentally retarded and may be innocent of the murder that sent him to death row. Rivera, who was scheduled for execution at 6 p.m., waited in a holding cell a few feet away from the execution chamber while the federal appeals court decided his fate. Rivera, 40, was sentenced to death after confessing to the murder of three-year old Luis Daniel Blanco in Brownsville in 1993. Prosecutors said the boy was strangled with elastic from his own underwear. Rivera later gave a videotaped oral confession, admitting to the murder. But, defense lawyers now contend, a psychiatrist and a psychologist believed Rivera shows signs of being mentally retarded. He cannot tell time, read, write or make change for a dollar, according to one report. The U.S. Supreme Court has barred the execution of mentally retarded killers. The murder occurred on July 9, 1993. Prosecutors said Veronica Zavala led the child to a park, where Rivera sexually assaulted the victim and strangled him. It was Zavala, now serving a life term in prison for her part in the murder, who pointed the finger at Rivera as the killer. But, after Rivera was convicted and sentenced to death, Zavala sent letters claiming she falsely accused Rivera. She claims that Rivera was not present when the child was killed and that he had nothing to do with the crime. This prompted Rivera's lawyers to ask for DNA testing, a request that was denied by the courts. Prosecutors say there is no biological material to test. Prosecutors and judges, also, do not believe Zavala's recantations. Court documents stated that Zavala had previously given police eight different stories about the murder and that the trial court judge did not believe her recantation. Rivera has previous convictions for burglary and two parole violations. Jim Marcus, executive director of the Texas Defender Service, which advised defense lawyers on capital cases and represents some death row inmates on appeal, told the Austin-American Statesman that Texas courts and lawmakers are failing to comply with the Supreme Court ruling banning the execution of mentally retarded murderers. Marcus told the newspaper that the state has made no systematic effort to identify inmates already on death row who are mentally retarded. One psychologist reported that as a child, Rivera was enrolled in special education classes, cannot read or write, tell time or even make change for a dollar. Rivera is a 10th grade dropout. In addition, a psychiatrist who testified at Rivera's trial that the convicted child killer was not mentally retarded recently stated that after reviewing records that if Rivera was fully examined again, he would not be surprised if Rivera was found to be mildly mentally retarded. One expert also stated that mentally retarded persons are more likely to confess to crimes they did not commit in order to please people.