Execution Report: William Murray

Continued from Page 1

A jury convicted Murray of capital murder in June 1999 and sentenced him to death. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the conviction and sentence in January 2000. All of his subsequent appeals in state and federal court were denied.

In an interview from death row a few days before his execution, Murray - whose 5' 3" height earned him the nickname "Scooter" - told a reporter he was high on PCP and crack cocaine and had drunk 18 beers when he broke into Ratcliff's house. He intended to steal a television set, but it turned out to be too heavy to carry. He said he did not know the victim was in the bedroom when he went in to look for items to steal. "I messed up. Somebody hit me from behind, and I went off ... the next thing, I did what I did. I tripped out. It was crazy."

Murray said that he dropped out of school in the ninth grade. "After that, it started going downhill," he said. "That was the worst mistake I ever did."

"Yes, I did do this," Murray said in the interview. "I'm not trying to blame this on somebody else. I want people to know I'm sorry for the crime. I pray to the Lord to forgive me and I'm asking them to forgive me. That's all I can do."

Despite admitting his guilt, Murray hoped he could avoid being executed. "I've been praying every day that the good Lord will let me out," he said. "They don't have to worry about me messing up any more."

Murray's lawyer did not file any last-chance appeals on his client's behalf.

Four days before his execution, Hurricane Ike moved through the Huntsville area. Despite widespread power outages, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice's Huntsville Unit had normal electric service. TDCJ officials said that even if power had been down, the judge's execution warrant would have been carried out, because the procedure does not require electricity.

Two of Ratcliff's nephews witnessed Murray's execution from a viewing room adjoining the death chamber. "I'm sorry for what I did," Murray told them. "I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me. The Lord has forgiven me." He then looked at his mother and brother, who were watching from the other viewing room. "I'll be there waiting for y'all, all right?" he said to them. "God bless." The lethal injection was then started. He was pronounced dead at 6:20 p.m.

By David Carson. Posted on 19 September 2008.
Sources: Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Associated Press, public records.