Execution Report: David Renteria

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A jury found Renteria guilty of capital murder in September 2003 and sentenced him to death. In October 2006, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed Renteria's conviction, but vacated the death sentence because the defense was not allowed to rebut a prosecution witness's statement that he expressed no remorse. Renteria was sentenced to death in a new punishment hearing in May 2008. The TCCA upheld it in May 2011. All of his subsequent appeals in state and federal court were denied.

The start of Renteria's execution was delayed by an about an hour by a last-ditch appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court that claimed the state's supply of pentobarbital was degraded and would cause him "terror" and "severe pain."

Alexandra's brother and sister, Ignacio Frausto and Sandra Frausto, watched Renteria's execution from a viewing room adjacent to the death chamber. Renteria's sister, Cecilia Esparza, watched from another viewing room.

Before Renteria gave his last statement, he sang hymns in Spanish and English as his sister sang along.

In his last statement, Renteria said "there is not a day that goes by that I do not think about that fateful event of that day and what transpired." He asked the Lord to grant the victim's family peace and apologized "for all the wrongs I have done." He did not directly admit to or apologize for killing Alexandra. He said that he forgave the people who wanted him to be executed. He also told his family, "I'm good, I'm strong, just know that I'm going to be okay." He said he loved them and would see them in the next world.

The lethal injection was started. Renteria then said, "Our Father, who art in Heaven...I taste it." He mumbled something, took two loud breaths, snored twice, and stopped breathing. He was pronounced dead at 7:11 p.m.

By David Carson. Posted on 27 November 2023.
Sources: Texas Department of Criminal Justice, court documents, Associated Press, Huntsville Item.