EXECUTION #21

Michael F. Rosales
Executed April 15, 2009 06:17 p.m. CDT by Lethal Injection in Texas
21st murderer executed in U.S. in 2009
1157th murderer executed in U.S. since 1976
13th murderer executed in Texas in 2009
436th murderer executed in Texas since 1976

Summary:
Rosales was in the process of committing burglary of an apartment near where he was staying when he was confronted by the owner, 68 year old Mary Felder. Rosales grabbed a kitchen knife from the victim's kitchen, stabbed her 137 times, and struck her with a hard object resulting in her death. After confessing, Rosales led police to a dumpster where he disposed of the murder weapons. There, police found a white plastic trash bag containing a bloody pair of needle-nose pliers, a bloody steak knife with a 4 ½ inch blade, and a bloody two-pronged kitchen fork.
Final/Special Meal:
Beef enchiladas, fried chicken, a double bacon cheeseburger and a vanilla cake.
Final Words:
"I love you," he told witnesses, who included three of his brothers standing a few feet away and watching through a window. "May the Lord be with you. Peace. I'm done."
The Execution
The lethal injection was then started. Eight minutes later, he was pronounced dead at 6:17 p.m.