Texas – In a grim conclusion to a disturbing case out of Texas, a 38-year-old father, identified as T. Mullis, paid the ultimate price for a crime that shook the United States sixteen years ago. Mullis was executed by lethal injection at a state penitentiary, marking the closure of a case that lingered in the minds of many.
In 2008, Mullis committed an unthinkable act against his 3-month-old son. He was charged with capital murder for the death of his infant son. The heinous nature of the crime, involving the deliberate and violent killing of a defenseless infant, led prosecutors to seek the death penalty.
The tragic events unfolded after Mullis had an altercation with his girlfriend at their home. Distraught, he drove to a nearby city with his 3-month-old son and stopped at a desolate parking lot. It was there that he se-ually assaulted the baby. Overwhelmed by his son’s cries, Mullis put his hands around the boy’s neck and started strangling him before he removed the baby from the vehicle and began stomping on his head until he died. After committing the murder, Mullis left his son’s body beside the road and fled the state, sparking a multi-state search that ended in Pennsylvania, where he surrendered to law enforcement without incident.
Mullis was tried and convicted of capital murder, receiving a death sentence. Over the years, he accepted responsibility for his actions and waived his right to appeal, expediting the execution process. On Tuesday, as he awaited lethal injection, Mullis used his final words to express remorse and gratitude. His last words were directed towards those who supported him during his time on death row, highlighting his personal growth and rehabilitation efforts. “I’d like to thank everyone… that accepted me for the man I became during my best and worst moments,” he stated. He acknowledged the irreversible nature of his actions, apologizing to his son’s mother and expressing no ill will towards those administering his execution.
The execution, however, did not proceed without complications. Technicians initially struggled to find a suitable vein for the IV, delaying the lethal injection by approximately 20 minutes. Despite these final moments of uncertainty, the sentence was carried out, with Mullis being pronounced dead at 7:01 p.m. CDT.
Mullis’ attorney, S. Nolan, remarked on the poignancy of executing a “redeemed man” who had consistently accepted responsibility for his actions. This sentiment brings to light the complex interplay between justice, redemption, and punishment.
Mullis’s execution was the fourth carried out by Texas in the current year. It coincided with another execution in Missouri, where convicted murderer M. Williams was put to death after the U.S. Supreme Court denied his appeal. Two more executions are scheduled this week in Oklahoma and Alabama. Additionally, South Carolina executed F. Owens last Friday.
