Texas executes triggerman in San Antonio murder-for-hire case
Texas executed hitman Ronaldo Ruiz late Tuesday night, 25 years after he killed a San Antonio woman for $2,000. Full Story
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![Death row inmate Rolando Ruiz was executed on March 7, 2017. He was convicted of murdering Theresa Rodriguez, 29, of San Antonio. He was hired by her husband, Michael Rodriguez, and his brother, Mark.]()
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Texas executes man convicted in Dallas-area double murder
After a nearly four-hour delay while waiting on final appeals in the U.S. Supreme Court, Terry Edwards was executed Thursday night for a robbery turned murder he claimed he did not commit. Full Story
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![The clock nears 6 p.m. at the "Walls" unit in Huntsville, where Texas executes its prisoners, on Jan. 26, 2017.]()
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State Rep. Dutton renews uphill fight to abolish the death penalty in Texas
Every legislative session since 2003, Harold Dutton of Houston has filed at least one bill to end capital punishment in Texas. It’s often been a lonely quest. Full Story
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Use our database to learn more about prison units across Texas
Use the Tribune's Texas Prison Inmates database to learn more about Texas' prison units and the more than 143,000 inmates housed inside them. Full Story
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![The William G. McConnell Prison Unit in Beeville, Texas.]()
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With New Evidence, Lawyers Challenge Death Sentence
Lawyers for death row inmate Rodney Reed, convicted in 1998 for murdering 19-year-old Giddings cashier Stacey Stites, say new evidence proves his innocence. They're asking courts to take another look at his case. Full Story
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![Death row inmate Rodney Reed (l.), scheduled to be executed on March 5, 2015, and Jimmy Lewis Fennell. Fennell is the former fiance of Stacey Stites, who Reed was convicted of murdering. Fennell was later convicted of rape and kidnapping of a 20-year-old Williamson Co. woman.]()
Credit: Texas Department of Criminal Justice -
Updated: Court Orders Review of Death Row Case Involving Reprimanded Psychologist
The state's highest criminal court on Wednesday ordered a lower court to review a death penalty case that involved a psychologist reprimanded last year for using unscientific methods. Full Story
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![Dr. George Denkowski conducted psychological exams for more than a dozen current death row inmates. 1) Anthony Pierce 2) Virgilio Maldonado 3) Calvin Hunter 4) John Matamoros 5) Derrick Charles 6) Kim Ly Lim 7) Coy Wesbrook 8) Joel Escobedo 9) Jamie McCoskey 10) Warren Rivers 11) Tomas Gallo 12) Steven Butler 13) Alfred Brown]()
Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Three Decades of Capital Punishment in Texas
Thirty-five years ago today, the state of Utah restarted the death penalty in the United States when Gary Gilmore was executed. Texas followed suit in 1982 and since then has executed 477 men and women, more than any other state. Full Story
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10 Most-Viewed Videos of 2011: Rick Perry, Alex Jones, Lance Armstrong
As we prepare to ring in the new year, we take a look back at some of our most-viewed videos of 2011. Full Story
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Executions, Death Sentences Drop in Texas, Nation
Leading a national downward trend in the use of the death penalty, Texas has executed just 13 prisoners so far in 2011, the lowest number in more than a decade. And juries meted out only eight new death sentences. Full Story
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![This gurney is used to perform executions at Terre Haute by lethal injection.]()
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On the Records: Texas Exonerations
Texas ranks third in the number of exonerations in the United States since 1989, according to data compiled by Mother Jones. Take a look at how Texas compares to other states across the nation with this map. Full Story
![This gurney is used to perform executions at Terre Haute by lethal injection.]()
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Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Grants Stay for Hank Skinner
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals today granted a stay of execution for Hank Skinner, who has been seeking DNA testing for a decade. Skinner was set to be executed on Wednesday. Full Story
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Credit: Caleb Bryant Miller -
Supreme Court Denies Duane Buck Appeal
The U.S. Supreme Court today denied the appeal of Texas death row inmate Duane Buck, who was seeking a retrial based on race-related testimony given during the sentencing phase of his 1997 trial. Full Story
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![Death row inmate Duane Buck, Texas Department of Criminal Justice photo]()
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Skinner, Running Out of Time, Awaits DNA Ruling From Skeptical Court
Facing a Wednesday execution date, convicted murderer Hank Skinner is again appealing to the state's highest criminal court to allow for new DNA tests he says could exonerate him. But the court previously has ruled against him — twice. Full Story
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Lower Court Denies Skinner DNA Test, Appeal Planned
A Gray County District Court today denied DNA testing that death row inmate Hank Skinner has been seeking for a decade. Skinner's lawyers plan to appeal the decision. His execution is scheduled for Wednesday. Full Story
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Officials Urge Perry to Halt Skinner Execution
More than a dozen current and former lawmakers, prosecutors, judges, police officers and even a former Texas governor sent a letter today calling on Gov. Rick Perry to allow for DNA testing death row inmate Hank Skinner says could prove his innocence. Full Story
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![Hank Skinner was sentenced to death for the 1993 triple slaying of his girlfriend and her two sons.]()
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Skinner Lawyer: DNA Decision Likely Up to State Court
Following a hearing today in federal court in Amarillo, a lawyer for death row inmate Hank Skinner said it will likely be up to the state courts to decide a fight over DNA testing in his case. Skinner is scheduled to be executed Nov. 9. Full Story
![Hank Skinner was sentenced to death for the 1993 triple slaying of his girlfriend and her two sons.]()
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Updated: Morton Wins Release From Prison After 25 Years
Michael Morton, who served 25 years in prison for the murder of his wife Christine, now will be released after DNA evidence linked another man to the crime and to another murder 16 months later. Full Story
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![Debra Jan Baker, Michael Morton (center), Williamson County District Attorney John Bradley]()
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Updated: TDCJ Will End Final Feasts Before Executions
The long-standing tradition of allowing death row inmates one last meal of their choosing before they enter the execution chamber ends today, said Brad Livingston, executive director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Full Story
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![State Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston.]()
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Supreme Court Grants Last-Minute Stay of Duane Buck Execution
At about 7:40 p.m., the U.S. Supreme Court stayed the execution of Duane Edward Buck. His trial was one of several cases in which a psychologist told jurors that his race made him more dangerous. Full Story
![Death row inmate Duane Buck, Texas Department of Criminal Justice photo]()
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With Execution Set for Tonight, Perry Faces Further Scrutiny
Tonight, Texas is scheduled to execute its 11th death row inmate this year. As Matt Largey of KUT News reports, controversy surrounding the inmate's case could put the spotlight back on Gov. Rick Perry's death penalty record, which has received national attention in recent weeks. Full Story
![Death row inmate Duane Buck, Texas Department of Criminal Justice photo]()
Credit: Texas Department of Criminal Justice
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