Execution: Gary Sterling
David Carson
2005 in Huntsville, Texas for the abduction, murder, and robbery of a
man from his home.
In May 1988, Sterling, then 20, was spotting stripping a car. The car
belonged to William Porter, 72, who, along with his brother, Leroy,
70, had been beaten to death earlier that night. Sterling eluded
capture that night, but was arrested the next day, hiding in his
attic.
While in jail for the Porter murders, Sterling stated that he wanted
to confess to another crime. He led authorities to the bodies of John
Carty, 72, and Deloris Smith, 52, in Navarro County. Sterling
confessed that he abducted Carty and Smith from Carty's home, drove
them to an isolated field, and beat them to death with a car bumper
jack. He stole a car, a television, a shotgun, and a lantern from the
home.
Evidence at Sterling's trial indicated that he knew all four of his
victims. He sold Carty's car to buy crack cocaine.
A jury found Sterling guilty of the capital murder of John Carty in
February 1989 and sentenced him to death. The Texas Court of Criminal
Appeals affirmed the conviction and sentence in April 1992. All of his
subsequent appeals in state and federal court were denied.
Sterling also pleaded guilty to Porter murders and received life
sentences for both of those convictions. He was not tried for Smith's
death.
"I wish I could do something to replace your father, your loved one,
but I can't." Sterling told Carty's sons in his last statement. "I
know this was a heinous crime. I just wish I could get him back."
Sterling also asked the chaplain to say a prayer. After the chaplain
prayed, the lethal injection was started. "I'll put in a good word
for everybody," Sterling said before losing consciousness. He was
pronounced dead at 6:16 p.m.
David Carson
(Sources: Texas Attorney General's office, Texas Department of
Criminal Justice, Associated Press.)
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Texas Execution Information
www.txexecutions.org