Execution Report: Alvin Crane

Alvin Wayne Crane, 41, was executed by lethal injection on 12 October 1999 in Huntsville, Texas, for the murder of a sheriff's deputy.

On the morning of 28 March 1987, two Perryton police officers responded to a domestic disturbance call at the home of a Mrs. Spicer, 91. Linda Crane, who worked for Mrs. Spicer as her nurse, told the officers that her husband had come over, that they had gotten into an argument, and that he broke the windows out of her car with a shovel. About three hours later, shortly after noon, Gayle Rogers, who managed Mrs. Spicer's business affairs, called Ochiltree County chief deputy sheriff Melvin Drum at home. Rogers told Drum about a threatening phone call that Alvin Crane had made to his residence.

At about 1:25 p.m., after receiving several more reports about Alvin Crane, Drum drove towards Mrs. Spicer's house. He saw Crane in his car a short distance away and pulled him over. Drum was in an unmarked car, but he had a red light flashing on his dashboard. Crane pulled into Spicer's driveway and Drum pulled in behind him. Crane, then 28, then exited his vehicle with a shotgun, approached Drum's car, and pointed the gun at him. Linda Crane them came out of the Spicer residence, shaking her husband and telling him "No." After five to ten seconds, she went back inside the house. Crane then shot Drum, who was still seated in his car. Crane then got in his car and sped away.

Bill Cassingham, Sheriff of Beaver County, Oklahoma, where Crane lived, was told to be on the lookout for Crane. At about 4:00 p.m., Cassingham spotted Crane's car and pursued it. After about a mile, Crane stopped because of a flat tire. Crane exited the car holding a shotgun. Sheriff Cassingham approached Crane and began talking to him. After a few minutes, Crane threw down the gun and surrendered. Cassingham discovered two other shotguns, a rifle, and a knife in the car.

Thelma Moncayo, Mrs. Spicer's housekeeper, testified at Crane's trial. She testified that Crane began calling the Spicer residence at about 7:30 a.m., before Linda arrived. She testified that she heard the shot, ran to a window, and saw Crane back out of the driveway. Another neighbor testified that he looked out his front door after the shot and saw a car heading up the street at high speed. He identified Crane as the driver of the car.

Crane had a prior conviction for an assault that took place in January 1987. He was on probation in Oklahoma at the time of the murder. He also had arrests for selling drugs and possessing illegal weapons.

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