Execution Report: Jose Gutierrez

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A jury convicted Jose Gutierrez of capital murder in February 1992 and sentenced him to death. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the conviction and sentence in March 1993. All of his subsequent appeals in state and federal court were denied.

Prosecutors offered Jessie Gutierrez a life sentence, but he turned them down. A jury subsequently convicted him of capital murder and sentenced him to death. He was executed on 16 September 1994.

At his execution, Gutierrez sang two verses of the hymn "Holy, Holy, Holy" while strapped to the gurney. He then recited the Lord's Prayer from the gospel according to Matthew. Finally, quoting from Luke 23:46, he said, "Father, into Thy hands I commit my spirit. Amen." With his last statement finished, the lethal injection was started. He was pronounced dead at 6:22 p.m.

By David Carson. Posted on 17 October 2002.
Sources: Sources: Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Texas Attorney General's Office, Associated Press.