Execution Report: Shannon Thomas

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A jury convicted Thomas of the capital murder of Victor and Maria Rios in November 1996 and sentenced him to death. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the conviction and sentence in March 1999. All of his subsequent appeals in state and federal court were denied.

Keith Bernard Clay confessed in writing to being involved in the Rios murders. He was charged, but not tried, in that case. He was, however, found guilty of capital murder in the convenience store robbery. He was executed by lethal injection in March 2003. Thomas was charged, but not tried, in the Varughese murder.

Thomas declined to speak with reporters while on death row.

The execution was delayed for about 30 minutes by a late appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. In his last statement, Thomas spoke for about a minute, expressing love and encouragement to his friends and family. The lethal injection was then started. As the drugs started taking effect, Thomas asked, "Is the mic still on?" He was told that it was, but then he lost consciousness. He was pronounced dead at 6:52 p.m.

By David Carson. Posted on 17 November 2005.
Sources: Texas Attorney General's office, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Houston Chronicle, Huntsville Item, court documents.