Execution Report: Gary Sterling

Gary Lynn Sterling, 38, was executed by lethal injection on 10 August 2005 in Huntsville, Texas for the abduction, murder, and robbery of a man from his home.

In May 1988, Sterling, then 20, was spotted 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.

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