Texas Man Tied to Four Slayings Executed

AP via Yahoo ^ | August 10, 2005 | Michael Graczyk

[COEXERJ145]

HUNTSVILLE, Texas - A former farm worker from central Texas was executed Wednesday for beating a man to death with a car jack during a violent spree 17 years ago.

"I wish I could do something to replace your father, your loved one," Gary Sterling said as two daughters and three sons of his victim stood a few feet away. "But I can't. I know this was a heinous crime."

Sterling, 38, was the 11th inmate executed by injection this year in Texas, the nation's most active capital punishment state.

He was condemned for the May 1988 death of John Carty, 72, at his home near Corsicana. Prosecutors also had evidence tying Sterling to the slaying of Delores Smith, 52, a friend of Carty's whose purse and glasses were found at Sterling's home.

[Txsleuth]

That is odd---I could have sworn I heard the local news on the radio say that the Supreme Court STOPPED his execution...

[COEXERJ145]

His lawyers probably did the usual last minute appeal to the Supreme Court but were turned down.

[txroadhawg]

God Bless Texas!

[Red6]

Another Texacution!

Huntsville seems to be a busy place. :)

Red6

[TADSLOS]

Next.

[nhoward14]

Texas Death Row... Roaches check in... but they don't check out.

[Ace the Biker]

To quote Ron White " Most states are doing away with the death penalty - In Texas we're putting in an express line"

[Pharmboy]

Whoops!

[COEXERJ145]

Next.

August 23, 2005

September 14, 2005 (This one will likely get more attention than usual.)

[GW and Twins Pawpaw]

Another inductee ready to join the Greater Huntsville Flatliners' Club...

[Txsleuth]

WE shall see...I just know what I heard on the radio about 15 minutes before this thread was posted...

Notice the reporter reported it as a "done deal"...might this be another Mitch Albom situation????

[Shawndell Green]

Thanks for the good news.

[sgtbono2002]

AMF

[kittymyrib]

It took Texas 17 years to get rid of this cockroach, and the rest of the country thinks we are so blood-thirsty. No one should be on death row more than five years, period.

[IronJack]

"I wish I could do something to replace your father, your loved one,"

You can only take. It's God's to give.

"But I can't.

Yep. Too bad it took you this long to figure that out.

I know this was a heinous crime."

Staring Eternity in the eye can really alter your perspective, can't it?

The world is a slightly better place for his having left it.

[TheDon]

Sterling, 38, was the 11th inmate executed by injection this year in Texas, the nation's most active capital punishment state.

Texas is way behind. I'm sure they've had more than 11 murders this year.

The world is a safer place.

[mdittmar]

"I wish I could do something to replace your father, your loved one," Gary Sterling said

And now the rest of the story,

Good riddance to a terrible waste of skin.

[technochick99]

No one should be on death row more than five years, period.

I strongly agree.

[Shawndell Green]

Killer apologizes before his execution
Aug. 10, 2005
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/3305547

Gary Sterling addresses sons and daughters of man he beat to death during a robbery

HUNTSVILLE - An apologetic former farm worker from Central Texas was executed Wednesday evening for using a car bumper jack to fatally beat and rob a man during a violent spree 17 years ago that authorities said left three other people dead.


"I wish I could do something to replace your father, your loved one," Gary Sterling said as two daughters and three sons of his victim stood a few feet away watching through a window. "But I can't. I know this was a heinous crime. I just wish I could get him back."

Asked by the warden if he had a final statement, Sterling said he wanted the chaplain to say a prayer.

"I can only say I'm sorry," Sterling said.

As Larry Hart, a prison chaplain, finished his brief prayer, Sterling smiled broadly and said as the drugs began flowing, "I'll put in a good word for everybody." He gasped several times and slipped into unconsciousness and seven minutes later at 6:16 p.m. he was pronounced dead.

Sterling, 38, was the 11th condemned prisoner executed this year in Texas.

Sterling was condemned for the beating death of John Carty, 72, killed in May 1988 at his home in Navarro County near Corsicana. Prosecutors also had evidence tying him to the slaying of Delores Smith, 52, a friend of Carty's whose purse and glasses were found at Sterling's home, although he was not tried for the woman's death.

Sterling led police to their bodies after he was arrested for the slayings of William Porter, 72, and Porter's brother, Leroy, 71, at their home in Hill County, about 35 miles northeast of Waco. He pleaded guilty to their slayings and received two life prison terms. Authorities said Sterling knew the four victims, who all were fatally beaten.

Evidence showed Sterling, who was 20 at the time, took Carty's car, a TV, shotgun and a lantern. Police said he sold the car for cash he needed to buy crack cocaine.

Sterling's execution came about an hour after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to grant a stay. Lawyers argued in appeals that Navarro County jurors were given flawed instructions when they decided in 1989 Sterling should be put to death.

Sterling had managed to elude police the night the Porter brothers were killed when they spotted him stripping Leroy Porter's car. Acting on a tip, he was arrested the following day as he hid in the attic of his home in Blooming Grove, a town 15 miles west of Corsicana.

While in jail in Hillsboro, Button said Sterling gained notoriety for trashing his cell, tearing up steel jail fixtures officials had been told were indestructible. Sterling, who declined to speak with reporters in the weeks preceding his scheduled lethal injection, also was remembered for a physical training regimen where he would do push-ups for hours.

End

Tearing up steel jail fixtures officials had been told were indestructible?

Do push-ups for hours?

Too bad this old boy did not play football.