Robert Neville

Robert James Neville Jr., 31, was executed by lethal injection on 8 February 2006 in Huntsville, Texas for the kidnapping and murder of a 19-year-old woman.

On 15 December 1998, Neville, then 23, and Michael Hall, 18, were driving in Arlington when they spotted Amy Robinson, 19, riding her bicycle to work. Robinson and Neville worked at the same grocery store. Robinson was mentally challenged and also suffered from Turner's syndrome, a genetic disorder that stunted her growth and sexual development at puberty. After Robinson accepted the ride, the men drove her to a rural area in Fort Worth, and began shooting her. First, Hall shot her in the leg with a pellet gun. Next, Hall and Neville shot her seven times with a .22-caliber rifle.

That day, a store employee called Robinson's family to notify them that she had not shown up for work. The family then called the police, who questioned Neville and Hall. Neville told the police that he worked with Robinson and knew her socially, but had not seen her in a couple of months.

Two weeks later, Hall's mother reported to the police that Hall had been missing for several days. Hall's stepbrother told the police that Hall had told him he and Neville had abducted and killed Robinson. Neville and Hall were arrested on 3 March in Eagle Pass, as they were attempting to cross into Mexico.

Neville admitted killing Robinson and told police where to find her body. He said that one day when he and Hall were drunk, he told Hall that he "would just like to [go] out and kill somebody." They initially discussed killing a black person, but then changed their minds and agreed that Amy Robinson, being small and mentally challenged, was an easier target. Robinson was also part Native American.

After his arrest, Robinson told reporters that he and Hall wanted to become serial killers of racial minorities. "We had a bet going to see who could shoot and kill the most people between the two of us," he said. "No matter if it was blacks or Mexicans - anybody as long as they weren't our color."

Neville had a prior conviction for burglary of a motor vehicle. He served two years of a ten-year sentence and was released on parole in June 1997. Additionally, evidence was introduced at his punishment hearing that at the age of 16 or 17, he sexually molested boys and girls aged 7 to 11, and he tortured cats. At the grocery store where he worked, Neville had ridiculed a mentally challenged coworker and avoided sacking groceries for minority customers.

A jury convicted Neville of capital murder in December 1998 and sentenced him to death. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the conviction and sentence in December 1999. All of his subsequent appeals in state and federal court were denied.

Michael Wayne Hall was also convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death. He is on death row as of this writing.

"I hope you can find it in yourselves to forgive me, and I hope all this here will kind of settle your pain. And I hope the Lord will give you comfort and peace. I just want you to know I am very sorry for what I have done," Neville said in his final statement. "If I see Amy on the other side, I will tell her how much you love and miss her. And we will have a lot to talk about." Neville then turned toward his parents and said, "I am sorry for putting you through all this pain and stuff. I love you all, and I will see you on the other side." The lethal injection was then started. He was pronounced dead at 6:19 p.m.