May God have mercy on their souls and the souls of their victims.

Roto-Reuters: Texas executes "Railroad Killer" for 1998 murder

A diminutive Mexican serial killer who murdered victims in their homes near railroads as he train-hopped across the United States, was executed by lethal injection in a Texas prison on Tuesday for the 1998 slaying of a Houston medical researcher.

Dubbed the 'Railroad Killer," Angel Maturino Resendiz, 45, was condemned for the rape and murder of Dr. Claudia Benton, 39, in her suburban Houston home on December 17, 1998.

Police said Resendiz sneaked into Benton's home after midnight and attacked the sleeping woman, raping her, stabbing her and then beating her to death with a statue.

The crime scene, described as horrific by experienced homicide detectives, was said to be emblematic of Resendiz's attacks, which claimed at least 13 victims, including three others in Texas between 1997 and 1999.

At his 2000 trial for Benton's murder, Resendiz pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. He claimed he was half-human and half-angel and was waging a war against evil.

In the weeks leading up to his execution, Resendiz's lawyers argued in courts he should not be put to death because he is insane and believed he would be resurrected after his execution to continue his campaign against evil.

Resendiz's execution was delayed on Tuesday night until the
U.S. Supreme Court rejected last-minute appeals.

While strapped to a gurney in the death chamber, Resendiz sought forgiveness.

"I want to ask if it is in your heart to forgive me," he said. "You don't have to. I know I allowed the devil to rule my life. I just ask you to forgive me and ask the Lord to forgive me for allowing the devil to deceive me."

Let us hope he sought the comfort of a priest and the Scaraments in his final hours.

Resendiz was the 13th person executed in Texas this year and the 368th put to death since the state resumed capital punishment in 1982, six years after the U.S. Supreme Court lifted a national death penalty ban, a total that leads the nation.

Resendiz made no final meal request.

Texas has 12 more executions scheduled through October.


The Chattanoogan: Tennessee Carries Out Execution Of Convicted Rapist; Murderer Sedley Alley Put To Death By Lethal Injection

Sedley Alley was executed by lethal injection early Wednesday morning, becoming the second person to be put to death in the state since 1960.

The execution was carried out in Nashville after the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated a stay that had been granted by a Circuit Court judge.

The execution also came following the United States Supreme Court’s denial of Alley’s appeals for a stay of his scheduled execution.

His attorneys then renewed their request for clemency from Gov. Phil Bredesen.

Lydia Lenker of the governor's office said Tuesday night, "The governor believes that this matter has been thoroughly and appropriately reviewed by the courts and therefore has denied clemency."

Attorneys for Alley said they would continue to push for DNA evidence they said they believe would clear him of the crime....

What exactly does "push for DNA evidence" mean? That is either sloppy reporting or sloppy lawyering.

...The 50-year-old Alley was pronounced dead at 2:12 a.m. at the death chamber at the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution.

He had been convicted of the 1985 rape and murder of 19-year-old Marine Suzanne Collins, 19, who was last seen when she went out jogging.