Yesterday, May 16, the State of Texas executed Juan Castillo for the 2003 murder of Tommy Garcia, Jr. in Bexar County.
Despite significant evidence of false testimony, both the United States Supreme Court and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals rejected Castillo’s final appeal. Castillo’s petition for clemency was denied by the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles. In his final statement, Castillo said, “To everyone that has been there for me, you know who you are. Love y’all. See y’all on the other side.”
Castillo’s execution is the sixth in Texas this year, and the eleventh in the United States. Bexar County accounts for 45 executions since 1982. There are currently eight other executions scheduled to take place in Texas through October.
Read more from the Texas Tribune and the Houston Chronicle.