William Murray

William Alfred Murray, 40, was executed by lethal injection on 17 September 2008 in Huntsville, Texas for the rape and murder of a woman while burglarizing her home.

On 10 February 1998, Murray, then 30, entered the Kaufman home of Rena Ratcliff, 93. While he was rummaging through Ratcliff's bedroom, looking for things to steal, she woke up. Ratcliff snuck up behind Murray and hit him on the back of his head with her cane or walker. Murray then began beating Ratcliff on her head. He also pulled her clothing down and raped her. He also tied an Ace bandage around her neck and stuffed the ends into her mouth. He then stole some change from a jar - about $10 - and a small knife, and left.

Murray was being questioned about another burglary in the area when he told the officer that he wanted to confess another crime. He then admitted to Ratcliff's murder.

Evidence at Murray's trial showed he was responsible for at least a dozen burglaries in Kaufman County. He had been convicted for one of them and given a 10-year prison sentence, but he was released only four months later on "shock probation" in November 1997. He also had a 1992 conviction for marijuana possession. While in jail, awaiting trial, he sexually assaulted two other inmates, and also escaped.

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.