Execution Report: Donald Miller

Donald Anthony Miller, 44, was executed by lethal injection on 27 February 2007 in Huntsville, Texas for the murder and robbery of two men.

Michael Mozingo and Kenneth Whitt were traveling furniture salesmen who made deliveries in an 18-wheel truck driven by Mozingo. In early 1982, Miller, then 20, Eddie Segura, 20, and Danny Woods, 19 approached Mozingo, 29, and Whitt, 19, about buying a large quantity of furniture. On 2 February 1982, Mozingo and Whitt made a delivery to Segura's house near Lake Houston in north Harris County. Upon arriving at the home, Miller, Woods, and Segura had the men unload the furniture, which was estimated as being worth $40,000. They then robbed the men at gunpoint. Miller was holding a .38-caliber revolver, and Woods was holding a sawed-off shotgun. They ordered the men to the floor and then took ther wallets and Whitt's wristwatch. About $4,500 in cash was taken from them. Miller then instructed the men to take off their boots, and told Woods and Segura to bind their hands with electrical tape. The victims were then forced back into their truck, and their hands and feet were tied with rope. They were then moved into Segura's car and driven to an isolated area.

After stopping the car on a roadside, the robbers let their victims out of the car and unbound their feet, leaving their hands tied. Miller assured them that they would not be harmed, and told them to walk to a fence and cross over it. As the men were walking toward the fence, Miller and Woods opened fire - Woods shooting first with his shotgun, and then Miller with his pistol. Miller emptied his handgun, firing about five rounds, first at Mozingo, then Whitt. The shotgun stock came off while Woods was firing it. The rest of the shotgun was discarded in a canal. A fisherman discovered the bodies the next day.

Segura testified against Miller at his trial, giving the account related above. Ray McCall, who was Segura's girlfriend's brother, testified that he visited Miller's home on the night of the murders. He said that Woods and Segura described the crime to him and that Miller took him to see the bodies. Other witnesses testified that Miller told them he stole some furniture, or that he was trying to sell furniture shortly after the murders. The state also presented evidence that Miller and Segura rented a storage unit to store the furniture, and that Miller's fingerprints were found on one of the stolen tables.

Miller had two previous felony convictions for motor vehicle theft. He pleaded guilty to the first theft in March 1980 and was sentenced to three years' probation. While on probation, he stole another automobile, and his probation was revoked. He was sent to the state penitentiary in October 1980. Information on his release date was not available for this report.

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