A Texas death row inmate whose case redefined the role of spiritual advisers in death chambers nationwide was executed Wednesday, despite the efforts of a district attorney to stop his lethal injection.
John Henry Ramirez, 38, was executed at the state penitentiary in Huntsville. He was convicted of killing 46-year-old Pablo Castro in 2004, as he took out the trash while working at a convenience store in Corpus Christi.
Prosecutors said Ramirez robbed Castro of $1.25 then stabbed him 29 times. Castro's killing took place during a series of robberies conducted by Ramirez and two women following a three-day drug binge. Ramirez fled to Mexico but was arrested 3 1/2 years later. Before Ramirez made his final comments, his spiritual adviser, Dana Moore, placed his right hand on the inmate's chest, and held it there for the duration of the execution. With his back to witnesses, Moore offered a brief prayer.
"It has been a long time coming, but Pablo Castro will probably finally get the justice that his family has sought for so long, despite the legal delays," said Skurka, who later served as Nueces County district attorney before retiring. Kretzer said Ramirez's spiritual adviser was also allowed to hold a Bible in the death chamber, which hadn't been permitted before, but it was unclear to witnesses whether Moore was carrying the book.
"I want my father to finally have his justice as well as the peace to finally move on with my life and let this nightmare be over," Fernando Castro, one of his sons, said in the motion.
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