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A jury found White guilty of the capital murder of Annette and Bonita Edwards in July 1996 and sentenced him to death. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the conviction and sentence in June 1998. All of his subsequent appeals in state and federal court were denied.
White had previously been scheduled for execution in 2015. He received a stay of execution, which was lifted after the appeals court heard his claims.
The day before White's execution, Dawanta Washington, the sister of Greta Williams, who was White's first victim, showed KHOU-TV an unopened box containing her sister's ashes. Washington said that after White was executed, she planned to travel home to Chicago to spread the ashes.
White's execution was attended by Washington and her family; Hiep Tuan Pham, the son of White's last victim, and his family; and Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg. No one from the Edwards family attended. No witnesses attended on White's behalf.
In his last statement, White apologized to the survivors of his victims. "I would like to apologize for all the wrong I have done, and for the pain I've caused to the Edwards family. I regret, I apologize, and I pray that you can find peace, comfort, and closure in your heart for the wrong I have done and the pain I have caused you, and anybody else I've caused pain to."
After apologizing some more, White thanked his friends, and said he prayed for the prison guards and administration and his incarcerated "brothers and sisters." He apologized some more then said, "I would like to sing a song." In a loud, strong voice, he began singing a hymn, "I trust in God."
White concluded his last statement with more apologizing and expressions of thanks and encouragement. Finally, he said, "To the administration again and to the guards, thank you for treating us like human beings. Thank you and I pray, that's it, Warden."
The lethal injection was then started. He was pronounced dead at 6:56 p.m.
By David Carson. Posted on 2 October 2024.
Sources: Texas Department of Criminal Justice, court documents, Associated Press, KHOU-TV, Huntsville Item.