Posted on 08/15/2007 6:18:08 PM PDT by Dubya
HUNTSVILLE -- A condemned prisoner whose threats toward corrections officers restricted his already limited movements on Texas death row was executed Wednesday evening for the rape and fatal shooting of a woman during a break-in at her home nearly 10 years ago.
In a brief final statement, a quiet Kenneth Parr expressed love to his family.
"I just want to tell my family I love y'all, man," he said. He mentioned two brothers by name and said, "Keep your head up, y'all. I'm ready."
He never looked at the relatives of his victims, including her parents. His mother and other relatives sobbed uncontrollably as they watched him die and didn't want to leave after Parr was pronounced dead at 6:20 p.m., nine minutes after the lethal dose began. Some of them pounded on the witness chamber window when prison officials covered Parr's body with a sheet.
Prison officials said that despite Parr's threats of violence, he was calm throughout his last day.
Parr, 27, was barely an adult, just days past his 18th birthday, when he and a younger half brother kicked in the door of the Bay City home of 30-year-old Linda Malek, robbed the place, then raped her and shot her in the head while she was in bed with her two young children.
Parr was the 20th condemned inmate executed this year in Texas and the first of five set to die over the next 15 days. He'd also be the 399th convicted killer put to death in the state since Texas resumed carrying out capital punishment in 1982.
Lawyers for Parr appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court to stop the execution, arguing that his death date was set improperly and that the state's lethal injection method was unconstitutionally cruel. Less than two hours before his scheduled execution time, the justices rejected his appeals.
Parr already was on probation after juvenile burglary and assault convictions when he was arrested for the slaying of Malek just days after his 18th birthday. The woman and her children lived across the street from the apartment where Parr and his brother were staying with a friend.
After being convicted of her murder and sent to death row, prison records show he continued to pile up disciplinary infractions like refusing orders and not following rules, creating disturbances and possessing weapons.
In the weeks preceding his execution, Texas Department of Criminal Justice officials took the rare step of putting him off-limits for media interviews because of security concerns.
"He's been adamant that he would like to harm staff members before he's executed," department spokeswoman Michelle Lyons said. "He flipped out when he found out we weren't going to do media stuff."
Steven Reis, the Matagorda County district attorney who prosecuted Parr, said the prisoner's history since being locked up was no surprise and shows jurors were correct to give him a death sentence.
"He is the clearest example of how even death row inmates are dangerous," Reis said. "Many people suggest that once a defendant is incarcerated for life, they pose no danger to society. This misleading statement presumes that the people who work within the prisons are not members of society, which is preposterous.
"Those people are at risk from the likes of Parr."
The Jan. 21, 1998, slaying was the only homicide that year in Matagorda County, about 100 miles southwest of Houston. The timing -- just days after Parr's 18th birthday -- is significant because the U.S. Supreme Court has barred execution for those convicted of crimes committed when under 18.
Parr's lawyers raised the age issue in earlier appeals but lost.
Parr's younger half-brother, Michael Jiminez, also was convicted in the case and is serving a life sentence. He was 17 at the time. Court records show Parr has two other brothers in prison and that his mother also served time for forgery.
"He never had a chance," Stan McGee, one of Parr's trial lawyers, said.
At his trial, evidence shows he wrote a rap song about killing Malek and how he was planning to murder again.
"That was pretty devastating," McGee recalled.
Some of the items taken from Malek's home were found in the apartment where Parr and his half-brother were staying. Their fingerprints were found at the murder scene. DNA tied Parr to the rape. The murder weapon was hidden in an air conditioning vent at the apartment.
After the intruders left, Malek's 8-year-old daughter called her grandparents to report the attack. She later would testify at Parr's capital murder trial.
"I cringe as I imagine that young mother as she begged her rapists to spare her children," Reis said.
A witness testified Jiminez told her he and Parr, who did not testify, shot Malek and planned to kill the children but the rusty gun jammed.
On a Web site devoted to this case, Parr complained of "grave misjustices," including what he said was a mistaken conviction.
The next Texas inmate scheduled to die is Johnny Ray Conner, facing injection next week for the shooting death of Houston grocery store owner Kathyanna Nguyen during an attempted holdup in 1998.
Also online: Texas Department of Criminal Justice execution schedule, www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/scheduledexecutions.htm
Kenneth Parr, www.deathrow.at/parr/index.html
Liberals will stand out there with candles. Bet they can’t even name the victim.
"He is the clearest example of how even death row inmates are dangerous," Reis said. "Many people suggest that once a defendant is incarcerated for life, they pose no danger to society. This misleading statement presumes that the people who work within the prisons are not members of society, which is preposterous.
"Those people are at risk from the likes of Parr."
He is SCUM of the best kind.
Sizzle, you bastard.
Too bad they can’t kill him several more times.
Good point, but liberals don't care about those who protect from the bad guys: cops, military, etc.
It really sucks that he died more humanely than his victim.
I watched a bit of “The Green Mile” today. Too bad they don’t use old sparky on the fools anymore.
Dear Devil,
Another scumbag on his way, blacken extra crispy as usual. More to follow.
Texas Judiciary.
We should be thankful that he had turned eighteen before he committed this latest offense. His previous offenses should have condemned him to a life behind bars. No, he was allowed to commit at least one murder before the "justice" system kicked in. Pathetic.
Ping to good news. Check out the family history of felonies!
He should be the poster boy for the death penalty.
Suzie Malek was killed as her children lay next to her.
FAMILY PHOTO
Great post. 15 more on their way.
10 years does seem like a long time.
bye, bye scum bag. You won’t ever rape or murder anyone ever again. Hope he WAS ready...cause he was going to meet his maker real soon.
Yeah, sure appears to be just child's play on his part....
Child's play has to be monitored closely so nobody is brutally murdered.
Kid's, they sure know how to have their fun don't they? /s
The liberal MSM sure can be misgiving.
Hmmm........the air here in Texas is so much fresher now. Good riddence! Took too long to take care of this barbarian! His little brother should be buried right beside him! :(
For eternity.
Just 399 since 1982 ?
Come onnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn 400 + !
Not likely to meet his maker, I think he’s got a one way ticket on the “hellavator”
Only an Attorney would reference the Constitution for the defense of such evil.
I do have to agree however that lethal injection was a might bit compassionate compared to the means used by this disgusting human being.
Do unto others as you would want done to yourself comes to mind.
If you come to Texas and kill someone we will kill you back.That's our policy!
Up please.
Sorry sir we only have a down button on this elevator.
Perhaps they could have found somebody to rape him just before they inserted the needle.
Why did the counting start in 1982? Is that when they brought the death penalty back?
Said just after the doors have closed, and the perp is secured in the car!
A noose around his neck and a hydraulic lift at a speed of 1 inch an hour attached to the noose while his toes are individually nailed to the floor could be a start.
You’re not going to like Minnesota’s no death penalty policy.......
I like how you think!!!
Yep according to the text up top here........ I think street justice has it’s place when guilt is a given. Waste of time and resources to harbor an coddle this sick trash.......
defenestrate em all !
Stay safe .......I am out for the nite T !!
It’s ok. I know some states have it and others don’t. Hopefully all will wake up and bring back the “eye for an eye” version of justice again!
Nite Squantos. Sweet dreams!
It isn't that bad for one has an individual death policy under state constitution if one needs to be "judge" "Jury" and "executioner".
One can lawfully protect thyself and live free for years with just a few million in debt to an attorney. ; )
I say good good bye and enjoy your trip to hell!!
We're workin' on it!
Am I the only one who is bothered by the fact that it took nearly 10 years to execute this monster? And many other people have been on death row much longer... Now THAT is a travesty of justice.
Cruel is if they treated him/tortured him FAR beyond what he did to his victims.
Cut off one finger ever 30 minutes, followed by toes, then work their way up the arms and legs 6 inches at a time until the elbows and knees. If he hasn’t bled out by then, set what is left on fire....
Now THAT would be cruel and unconstitutional. But hanging, electrocution, gas chamber, etc. are all well within “fair” punishment as far as I am concerned. They all also make a much more dramatic deterrent than quietly going to sleep (how again is that inhumane???).
I’ll bring my own deliverer of justice with me when I move. At least I can make sure to protect me and mine from the creeps.
Let me know when you get settled. I’ll introduce you to my home range.
Look on the bright side, one less POS that the tax payers have to support.
The world is a better, safer place. If only his brother could be executed as well.
BS He had more of a chance than his victim did. Hell just ain’t hot enough.
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