Execution Report: Gregory Wright

Continued from Page 1

A jury convicted Wright of capital murder in December 1997 and sentenced him to death. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the conviction and sentence in June 2000. All of his subsequent appeals in state and federal court were denied.

John Adams was also convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death. He remains on death row as of this writing.

In their trials and appeals, both Wright and Adams blamed the other for the killing. In one appeal, Adams recanted his testimony and took sole responsibility for the killing, but he reversed himself again at a later hearing.

A September execution date for Wright was withdrawn so additional DNA testing could be done. His execution was rescheduled after the results of the test were reported back to the court.

"The truth doesn't matter," Wright said in an interview from death row a few days before his execution. He said he was stunned when his guilty verdict was announced. "I couldn't believe what was happening ... I am innocent."

Wright again proclaimed his innocence in his last statement at his execution. "There's been a lot of confusion who done this," he said. "I never sold anything to anyone. My only act or involvement was not telling on him. John Adams was the one that killed Donna Vick. The evidence proves that ... I was in the bathroom when he attacked. I ran into the bedroom. By the time I came in, when I tried to help her with first aid, it was too late." Wright also expressed love to his family. "I'll be waiting on y'all," he said in closing. "I am finished talking." The lethal injection was then started. He was pronounced dead at 6:20 p.m.

The victim's son, Jerry Don Blanton, attended Wright's execution. A reporter asked him afterward about Wright's last statement. "He could have been the hero in this if that was a true story," Blanton answered. "I really think if there was any truth in what he said, he could have probably stopped this. And if he wanted to protect his friend, all he had to do was call 911 and get an ambulance out there."

"We're getting the same thing we've got since day one, each of them blaming it on the other one."

"I thought justice demanded we executed the right person," Meg Penrose, one of Wright's lawyers, said. "I'd rather wait thirty years and make sure we have the proper individual executed than wait twelve and hedge our bets. I don't like the rush to review that we're at. A person who is innocent is rushed to the gurney and is executed."

By David Carson. Posted on 31 October 2008. Updated on 1 November 2008.
Sources: Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Texas Attorney General's Office, Associated Press, Dallas Morning News.