Execution Report: Tony Walker

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A jury convicted Walker of the capital murder of Virginia Simmons in November 1993 and sentenced him to death. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the conviction and sentence in October 1996. All of his subsequent appeals in state and federal court were denied. The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles denied his clemency request by a 17-0 vote.

Walker did not give interviews while on death row. However, he did correspond with an anti-death-penalty web site. One of his letters may give a clue as to his choice of murder weapons. Urging readers to buy his woodcraft items, such as clocks and jewelry boxes, he wrote, "I have always been infatuated, working with wood."

Other than two reporters, there were no witnesses to Walker's execution, either for the prisoner or the victims. In a written statement, he wrote, "I wish to tell the family how sorry I am about what I done. I know that nothing I say will bring Mr. and Mrs. Bo Simmons back. I ask that Linda and Gary [the couple's children] and their family can find it in there [sic] hearts to forgive me, but if not, I will understand, I am truly sorry." On the execution gurney, Walker expressed love to two pen pals in Europe. "And to my family," he said, choking back tears, "nothing." With his last statement finished, the lethal injection was started. Walker then began reciting the Lord's Prayer. When he reached the words, "Thy kingdom come," he stopped and said, "Help me, chaplain." The chaplain continued saying the prayer as Walker gasped and sputtered several times. When he stopped breathing, a tear rolled out of his right eye, onto his cheek. He was pronounced dead at 6:16 p.m.

By David Carson. Posted on 11 September 2002.
Sources: Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Texas Attorney General's Office, Associated Press, Huntsville Item.