Texas Executes Inmate for Killing Christian Missionary in $8 Robbery
Texas has executed an inmate convicted for the murder of a Christian missionary in 1998 in a robbery that yielded only $8.
On Tuesday, Juan Martin Garcia became the 11th inmate who received the death penalty to be executed in Texas this year. The convicted murderer was executed via lethal injection, according to the International Business Times.
Garcia was pronounced dead 12 minutes after he was injected with the lethal pentobarbital drug. Before he died at 6:26 p.m. CDT, he apologized in Spanish to the family of the Christian missionary he killed, The Guardian reports.
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"The harm that I did to your dad and husband — I hope this brings you closure," the IBT quotes Garcia's apology to Hugo Solano's wife and daughter. "I never wanted to hurt any of you all," the 35-year-old added.
The inmate also spoke to his sister and friends in English and told them that he loved them and he will always be with them no matter what happens.
In March this year, the U.S. Supreme Court denied a request to review Garcia's case. Last week, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles also rejected his mercy petition.
Garcia and his three companions attempted to rob the Mexican missionary in September 1998. Their attempt resulted in Garcia fatally shooting Solana and taking $8 from his victim. Just last month, Garcia told the Associated Press that he was forced to shoot the 36-year-old because he resisted the robbery and he thought Solano would try to kill him. He said the missionary grabbed the gun and it accidentally discharged.
Garcia's legal counsels said their client had no access to proper legal assistance all throughout his trial. They also said Garcia was suffering from mental impairment, thus he was not eligible for the capital punishment, the report details.
The three other robbers were also convicted of the crime. Eleazar Mendoza was sentenced to 55 years of jail time, while Raymond McBen got 30. Gabriel Morales, on the other hand, received the life sentence.
Among all the states in the United States, Texas is the one that implements more executions each year. This year, three more inmates on death row are set to be executed, including Licho Escamilla, who was convicted for fatally shooting Dallas cop Christopher Kevin James.
