Execution Report: Milton Mathis

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A jury convicted Mathis of capital murder in September 1999. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the conviction and sentence in February 2002. All of his subsequent appeals in state and federal court were denied.

Mathis had previously been scheduled to be executed on 20 April 2005, but the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals stayed that execution date so that his claim of mental retardation could be considered. The courts subsequently determined that he was not retarded.

On a web site maintained by opponents of the death penalty, Mathis protested his sentence and stated, "I am not an animal, nor am I a menace to society, that cannot be rehabilitated." He wrote, "I was just a kid that made some bad decisions in his life. But haven't we all made mistakes?"

As Mathis's execution approached, his lawyers filed further appeals arguing that he was mentally impaired. The U.S. Supreme Court rejected his appeal the afternoon of his execution. The execution was delayed for about a half hour as the Texas Court of Criminal appeals considered the appeal.

Mathis's paralyzed victim, Melanie Almaguer, attended his execution, seated in a wheelchair and accompanied by her husband. "I never meant to hurt you," Mathis said to her in his last statement. "You were just at the wrong place at the wrong time. I am not asking for your forgiveness. All I have to worry about is God forgiving me. I hope you get better. To the doctors, make sure you take care of her." He also thanked his friends and relatives, and asked for mercy for himself and "these people carrying out this mass slaughter."

"The system has failed me," Mathis said. "This is what you call a miscarriage of justice. Life is not supposed to end this way ... I just ask the Lord, when I knock at the gates, you just let me in." The lethal injection was then started. He was pronounced dead at 6:53 p.m.

By David Carson. Posted on 21 June 2011.
Sources: Texas Attorney General's office, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, court documents, Associated Press, Huntsville Item, deathrow-usa.com.