MJP –
Arthur Lee Burton, a man imprisoned for the 1997 killing of Houston jogger Nancy Adleman, was executed by the state of Texas on Wednesday.
The Texas Tribune reported that Burton’s last-minute appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, in which he claimed intellectual disability, was unsuccessful in stopping the execution. After the lethal injection, Burton was pronounced dead at 6:47 p.m.
Burton, who has been on death row since 1998, thanked those who prayed for him and apologized to those he hurt in his final statement. He acknowledged the pain he caused and wished for peace for all parties involved, according to the same Texas Tribune report. This occurred despite controversy and legal battles.
The tragic death of Nancy Adleman, who was jogging on a summer evening in Houston, shocked and saddened the community. The case received extensive media attention. After initially denying the crime, Burton confessed. According to the Texas Tribune, who uncovered details from court records, he also attempted to abduct and rape his victim.
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Court statements and continuing reporting by the Texas Tribune provide detailed information about the lengthy legal process that led up to Burton’s execution.
The defense team for Burton, which included a clinical psychologist, argued that he met the criteria for mild intellectual disability. After losing their case at the U.S. Supreme Court, the matter was remanded to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, which dismissed the disability claim.
