Execution Report: Robert Shields

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A jury convicted Shields of capital murder in October 1995 and sentenced him to death. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the conviction and sentence in February 1998. All of his subsequent appeals in state and federal court were denied.

In his appeals, Shields' lawyers claimed that he did not intend to kill Stiner, and was only defending himself.

Shields gave one interview while on death row. In it, he said that he did not kill Stiner, although he admitted being in the house when she died.

Shields wrote a letter to Governor Rick Perry, inviting him to witness his execution. "I would ask that you be there to answer my loved ones [sic] questions," he wrote. "Explain to them why they too had to become victims. It is time for you to have the courage of your convictions and stand there looking me in the eyes as those lethal drugs take my life." Governor Perry did not attend Shields' execution or respond to the letter.

Both the killer's and the victim's families attended the execution. After Shields was prepared for the lethal injection, the warden asked him if he wanted to make a last statement. Shields answered, "No." The lethal injection was started, and he was pronounced dead at 6:15 p.m.

"Murdered," said Robert Shields Sr., pointing at prison officials, after his son stopped breathing. "Murdered by the state." John Ross, Paula Stiner's father, watched and listened from the other witness chamber. After a few seconds of silence, he muttered, "Bastards."

By David Carson. Posted on 24 August 2005.
Sources: Texas Attorney General's office, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Associated Press, Galveston County Daily News, court documents.