Execution Report: Caruthers Alexander

Caruthers Alexander, 52, was executed by lethal injection on 29 January in Huntsville, Texas for the rape and murder of a nightclub waitress.

In April 1981, Lori Bruch, 19, left her job at a nightclub. At about 4:00 a.m., police found her car at a low-water crossing. The car was damaged, the windows were open, and Bruch's purse was inside. Later that morning, two elementary school children walking to school saw Bruch's nude body lying in a rain-filled gutter. Her wrists and ankles were bound by a rope and a gag was in her mouth. A piece of cloth was wound tightly around her neck. Police also noted that she was wearing one earring.

Witnesses near the scene recalled having seen a white delivery van parked near the club. Police located the van and noted evidence of a recent collision, including paint that matched Bruch's car. The van's assigned driver, Caruthers Alexander, 32, said he didn't know how the van was damaged. Searching the inside the van, police found blood that matched the victim's and an earring matching the one found on her body. When he was told that the victim's missing earring had been found inside the van, Alexander became physically ill.

Prosecutors said that Alexander intentionally hit Bruch's car with his van in order to stop her and lure her from her car.

Alexander had previously served 7 months of a two-year sentence for arson in 1972, and 10 months of a three-year sentence for involuntary manslaughter in 1975.

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