EXECUTION #42

Reginald Winthrop Blanton
Executed October 27, 2009 06:21 p.m. CDT by Lethal Injection in Texas
42nd murderer executed in U.S. in 2009
1178th murderer executed in U.S. since 1976
19th murderer executed in Texas in 2009
442nd murderer executed in Texas since 1976
Summary:
Blanton and his twin brother, Robert, and Robert's girlfriend LaToya Mayberry, went to the apartment of Carlos Garza, 20, an acquaintance of theirs. While Mayberry waited in the car, the twins kicked in the door of Garza's apartment and went inside. Two shots were fired, one of them hitting Garza in the forehead. After taking some jewelry and cash, and looking for drugs to steal, the twins returned to the car, and drove away. Mayberry later told police about the murder. She said she saw Reginald return to the car with jewelry in his hand, including two necklaces. She said Robert told her Garza confronted them while they were inside the apartment, and Reginald shot him. Garza's jewelry was recovered from a local pawn shop. Reginald Blanton was recorded on videotape about 20 minutes after the shooting, selling two of Garza's gold necklaces and a religious medal for $79. At the time of arrest, he was wearing a ring and bracelet that had also belonged to Garza.
Final/Special Meal: None...what? No fried Chicken?
Final Words:
Blanton declared his execution an injustice and proclaimed he was wrongly convicted for the crime. “Carlos was my friend. I didn’t murder him. What is happening right now is an injustice. This doesn’t solve anything. This will not bring back Carlos.” Blanton also complained that the drugs being used to execute him were not even permitted to be used to put down dogs. “I say I am worse than a dog. They want to kill me for this; I am not the man that did this.” Blanton addressed friends in attendance, including fiance Sandra Stafford, telling them he loved them and urging them to continue their fight for his innocence. “Stay strong, continue to fight. I will see y’all again.”
The Execution
Proclaiming innocence to the very end, condemned murderer Reginald Blanton was executed Tuesday for the 2000 robbery-slaying of a 22-year-old Hispanic man in San Antonio. Blanton, 28, was pronounced dead by lethal injection at 6:21 p.m., just eight minutes after the dosage began at 6:13 p.m.