Execution Report: Robert Atworth

Robert Ronald Atworth, 31, was executed by lethal injection on 14 December 1999 in Huntsville, Texas, for the robbery and murder of a 56-year-old man.

In April 1995, Atworth, then 26, and his wife, Collette, were driving home from a nightclub. When Atworth pulled up to a traffic light, he noticed a man in the vehicle next to him. The driver, Thomas Carlson, was slumped onto the steering wheel, and smoke was drifting out from under the hood of his car. Atworth exited his vehicle and approached Carlson, who was intoxicated. He convinced Carlson to follow him, and they pulled into a parking lot. Atworth then told Carlson that he was an off-duty police officer and asked to see his identification. He then told Collette to follow him in their rented car. With Carlson in the passenger's seat, Atworth drove Carlson's car behind a health club and parked beside some dumpsters. Collette parked on the other side of the dumpsters and could not see the other car.

Atworth then shot Carlson four times in the head, torso, and groin with a 9mm weapon. He also cut Carlson on the abdomen and chin with a knife. He stole Carlson's wallet and car keys. He also severed one of Carlson's fingers and stole a ring. He then came out on the other side of the dumpsters and got into his car. He and Collette drove back to their apartment. They changed into dark clothing, then returned to the scene. Atworth opened Carlson's car door and trunk and told Collette to remove everything from the vehicle. They tried, but were unable, to place Carlson's body inside a dumpster, so they concealed the body with trash bags and left, driving both vehicles back to their apartment.

Atworth was arrested the next day, while burglarizing a residence. He was driving Carlson's car and had the murder weapon in his possession. He was also carrying a .380 pistol, which belonged to Carlson, and some knives. He confessed to the murder, but he referred to himself in the third person and said that the murder was committed by his alternate personality, whom he called "Nino." He also claimed, at various times, to have killed the victim in self-defense.

At Atworth's trial, Collette testified that she waited on the other side of the dumpsters for about ten minutes, heard three gunshots, and then Robert came back to their car. She also testified that when they were back at their apartment after hiding the body, Atworth said, "Guess what I've got?" and held out Carlson's severed finger.

Atworth had numerous convictions for the possession and sale of drugs, grand theft, trespassing, and criminal mischief. A former wife testified that Atworth had once shot at her. A former girlfriend testified that he once pointed a pistol at her and threatened to kill her. A former boyfriend of Collette's testified that Atworth twice pointed a loaded pistol at him and threatened to kill him. Finally, Collette testified that Atworth once placed a loaded gun to her head and threatened to kill her.

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