Execution Report: Samuel Bustamante

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A jury convicted Bustamante of capital murder in March 2001 and sentenced him to death. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the conviction and sentence in June 2003. All of his subsequent appeals in state and federal court were denied. He was also sentenced to 40 years in prison for Turner's killing.

Dedrick Deshone Depriest, Walter Escamilla, and Arthur Escamilla pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery and received 8-year sentences, which they have completed. Bill Bustamante is still serving a 40-year sentence for Turner's murder.

Samuel Bustamante granted a reporter's request for an interview prior to his execution, but he failed to keep the appointment. On an anti-death-penalty web site, Bustamante stated, "I did do wrong, yet there is a lot more good in me than bad. We are all human and make mistakes. Yet, do we not deserve the benefit of the doubt?"

Bustamante's execution was attended by four women he invited. No one attended on behalf of the victims. The condemned man made no last statement before the lethal injection was given. He was pronounced dead at 6:22 p.m.

By David Carson. Posted on 28 April 2010.
Sources: Texas Attorney General's office, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, court documents, Houston Chronicle, deathrow-usa.com.