[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----TEXAS

[Rick Halperin]

March 7



TEXAS----execution


SA hit man Rolando Ruiz executed after Supreme Court denies appeals


The U.S. Supreme Court denied the appeals from attorneys trying to keep a paid 
hit man from execution in Texas for gunning down a San Antonio woman in a life 
insurance scheme nearly a quarter-century ago.

Rolando Ruiz was convicted of accepting $2,000 to fatally shoot Theresa 
Rodriguez, 29, outside her home in 1992 as she was getting out of a car with 
her husband and brother-in-law, who both orchestrated her murder.

The ruling came down just after 10 p.m. and he was pronounced dead at 11:06 
p.m.

The execution was delayed nearly 5 hours before the U.S. Supreme Court rejected 
last-day appeals from Ruiz's attorneys.

Ruiz approached a car pulling up to Rodriguez's home the night of July 14, 
1992, under the guise of seeking directions. Her husband of nearly seven years, 
Michael, was in the car along with Michael's brother, Mark. Ruiz, who already 
had pocketed $1,000 and had failed in two earlier killing attempts, asked Mark 
Rodriguez if he wanted him to "do it," and Rodriguez gave him the go-ahead. As 
Theresa Rodriguez was getting out of the car, Ruiz put a .357 Magnum revolver 
to her head and fired.

3 days later, Ruiz collected another $1,000 for the completed job.

Evidence showed Michael Rodriguez stood to collect at least a quarter-million 
dollars in insurance benefits from his wife's death and that he'd recently 
applied for another $150,000 in life insurance for her.

Ruiz had met Mark Rodriguez at the home of a mutual friend, was arrested nine 
days after the shooting and implicated the brothers. The police investigation 
was aided by a telephone tip after Theresa Rodriguez's employer, the San 
Antonio-based financial services giant USAA, offered a $50,000 reward for 
information about her slaying.

Ruiz becomes the 3rd condemned inmate to be put to death this year in Texas and 
the 541st overall since the state resumed capital punishment on december 7, 
1982.  Ruiz becomes the 23rd condemned inmate to be put to death in Texas since 
greg Abbott became governor.

Ruiz becomes the 5th condemned inmate to be put to death this year in the USA 
and the 1447th overall since the nation resumed executions on January 17, 1977.

(sources: KSAT news & Rick Halperin






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Executions under Greg Abbott, Jan. 21, 2015-present----23

Executions in Texas:  Dec. 7, 1982----present-----541

Abbott#--------scheduled execution date-----name------------Tx. #


24---------March 14-----------------James Bigby-----------542

25---------April 12-----------------Paul Storey-----------543

26---------May 16-------------------Tilon Carter----------544

27---------May 24-------------------Juan Castillo----------545

28---------June 28------------------Steven Long-----------546

29---------July 19-----------------Kosoul Chanthakoummane---547

(sources: TDCJ & Rick Halperin)