February 24, 2000Huntsville, TexasBetty Lou Beets is executed for the murder of her fifth husband, Jimmy Don Beets Jimmy Don was reported missing on August 6, 1983; his boat was found adrift on a lake near his Gun Barrel City, Texas home on August 12. On board were Jimmy Don’s fishing license, a life jacket,…
Man executed for the murders of his step-daughters
February 7, 2007Huntsville, TexasJames Lewis Jackson is executed for the murders of his step-daughters On April 9, 1997, a co-worker of Sharon Jackson (39) became concerned when Sharon failed to give her a ride to work as planned. The co-worker called Sharon’s sister who, accompanied by her mother, went to Sharon’s home. Inside were the…
Man abducts, assaults, kills young cousin
December 19, 1985Houston, TexasTara Lauti (9) is abducted, sexually assaulted, and killed by her uncle Aua Lauti (31) Aua visited the house of his uncle (Tara’s father) on the night of December 18. He had been despondent over a recent break up and was visibly intoxicated by the time he arrived, and continued to excessively…
Three family members shot in their home
December 10, 2003Sugar Land, TexasThree members of the Whitaker family are shot as they return home from dinner The Whitakers’ elder son, Thomas Bartlett “Bart” Whitaker (23), announced to his family he had completed his studies at Sam Houston State University and would soon be graduating. (It was later revealed there were no records from…
The execution of Charles Brooks, the first person to be executed by lethal injection
December 7, 1982Huntsville, TexasCharles Brooks Jr. (also known as Shareef Ahmad Abdul-Rahim) is executed for the murder of a man, becoming the first person to be executed by lethal injection Lethal injection was first proposed by Oklahoma state medical examiner Jay Chapman who got the idea for a humane alternative to the electric chair while…
