Execution Report: Timothy Titsworth

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Like most states, Texas law defines capital murder as a first-degree murder that is aggravated by another factor, such as robbery. Titsworth's defense was that the crime was not a capital murder because he killed the victim over a lover's quarrel, and he had no intention of robbing her at the time of the killing.

A jury convicted Titsworth of capital murder in October 1993. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the conviction and sentence in November 1995. All of his subsequent appeals in state and federal court were denied.

Sossaman's mother attended Titsworth's execution, as did her daughter, Megan, who was 4 years old at the time of her mother's murder. "There are no words to describe the pain and suffering you went through," Titsworth said to them in his last statement. "I hope that Megan, if she is here present today, know that today I hope you get peace and joy. I'm sorry that it's taken 14 years to bring closure ... I didn't mean to inflict the pain and suffering on your family. I pray that she is safe in Heaven ... If these words can ever touch your heart, I am sorry. I am truly sorry." The lethal injection was then started. As the drugs began taking effect, Titsworth said, "Here we go." He was pronounced dead at 6:20 p.m.

Afterward, Megan Sossaman and her grandmother, Inez Zetzsche, expressed surprise and appreciation for Titsworth's apology.

By David Carson. Posted on 7 June 2006.
Sources: Texas Attorney General's office, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Associated Press, Huntsville Item, court documents.