[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----TEXAS, N.C., TENN., OKLA.

[Rick Halperin]

July 21



TEXAS----impending executions

Dexter Darnell Johnson's execution is scheduled to occur at 6 pm CDT, on 
Thursday, August 15, 2019, at the Walls Unit of the Huntsville State 
Penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas. 31-year-old Dexter is convicted of the 
murder of 23-year-old Maria Aparece and 17-year-old Huy Ngo on June 18, 2006, 
in Houston, Texas. Dexter has spent the last 11 years of his life on Texas’ 
death row.

Dexter was born and raised in Texas. He dropped out of school following the 9th 
grade.

During the early morning hours of June 18, 2006, Dexter Johnson and 4 of his 
friends, Ashley Ervin, Louis Ervin, Keithron Fields, and Timothy Randle, were 
driving around in Ashley’s car, looking for someone to rob. The group 
discovered Maria Aparece and Huy Ngo siting in Maria’s vehicle on the street.

Johnson took a shot gun and stood outside the driver’s side door, threatening 
to shoot Maria if she did not cooperate. Johnson demanded she open the door, 
and when she did, he threw her into the back seat and sat in the driver’s seat. 
Fields, who was out side the passenger side door, threw Huy into the back seat 
with Maria, and sat in the front seat on the passenger side. Louis sat in the 
back. Ashley and Randle followed in Ashely’s car.

Johnson demanded money from Maria and Huy. Eventually, Johnson pulled over into 
a wooded area and forced Huy from the car. Johnson then raped Maria, while 
Fields forced Huy to listen and taunted him. Maria and Huy were then marched 
into the woods, by Johnson and Fields, where they were shot and killed.

Over the next several days, Johnson used Maria’s credit card several times.

On June 21, 2006, Johnson was arrested for possession of marijuana. He was 
quickly linked by police to the disappearance of Maria and Huy. Police were 
able to obtain security footage from a Wal-Mart, where Maria’s credit card was 
used after she went missing.

During his trial, testimony was presented that showed Johnson was the leader of 
a gang. Johnson is also believed to be connected to several other murders. 
Following his sentencing, Johnson threw a chair in courtroom, resulting in him 
being forcibly restrained and escorted out of the courtroom by several 
sheriff’s deputies.

Ashley Ervin is currently serving a prison sentence and is eligible for parole 
in 2046. Keithron Fields has been sentenced to life in prison, without the 
possibility of parole. Timothy Randle is currently serving a 25 years in 
prison. Louis Ervin was a juvenile at the time of the crime.

Dexter Johnson was previously scheduled to be executed on Thursday, May 2, 
2019. That execution was stayed by a Federal court. Dexter wrote to the federal 
court shortly after being given his May 2, execution date, complaining about 
his attorney, who has been on his case for years. The court appointed a 2nd 
legal team to investigate the claims, while allowing the 1st attorney to remain 
on the case. The 2nd legal team has now claimed that the 1st attorney “violated 
ethical and professional duties throughout his representation.” Based on these 
concerns, the federal court halted Dexter's execution. Dexter's 1st attorney 
has since voluntarily removed himself from the case.

Please pray for peace and healing for the families of the Maria Aparece and Huy 
Ngo. Please pray for strength for the family of Dexter Johnson. Please pray 
that if Dexter is innocent, lacks the competency to be executed or should not 
be executed for any other reason, that evidence will be presented prior to his 
execution. Please pray that Dexter will come to find peace through personal 
relationship with the Lord, if he has not already.

**************************

Larry Ray Swearingen is scheduled to be executed at 6 pm CST, on Wednesday, 
August 21, 2019, at the Walls Unit of the Huntsville State Penitentiary in 
Huntsville, Texas. 48-year-old Larry is convicted of the kidnapping and murder 
of 19-year-old Melissa Trotter on December 8, 1998, in Montgomery County, 
Texas. Larry has spent the last 19 years of his life on Texas’ death row.

Larry was born in Montgomery County, Texas on May 21, 1971. He attended school 
through the 11th grade. Larry worked as an electrician/mechanic until his 
arrest. Larry had 1 prior conviction for burglary of a building, for which he 
received probation. After his arrest for murder, the probation was revoked and 
he was given a 2-year sentence.

Melissa Trotter was a student at Montgomery College in Conroe, Texas. She met 
Swearingen in the beginning of December 1998. On December 8, 1998, Melissa and 
Swearingen were observed together in the library. They were seen leaving the 
campus together by her biology professor, who later identified the man with 
Melissa as Swearingen. After leaving campus that day, Melissa was never seen or 
heard from again. On January 2, 1999, her partially nude body was found by two 
hunters in the Sam Houston National Forest. On December 11, 1998, prior to 
Melissa’s body being discovered, Swearingen was arrested for unrelated 
outstanding warrants. After Melissa’s body was discovered, he quickly became 
the police’s prime suspect. Police searched the trailer in which Swearingen 
lived with his wife. Inside, police discovered a pack of cigarettes, the same 
brand that Melissa smoked, and a lighter that was similar to the one Melissa 
had used. Neither Swearingen nor his wife smoked.

Melissa had been strangled using a small piece of hosiery, which had been cut 
from a pair of nylons. Police did not find a pair nylons when searching the 
trailer, however, Swearingen’s landlord found the missing hosiery in a bag of 
trash while he was cleaning the trailer in preparation for new tenants. The 
found hosiery’s cut marks, matched the cut piece of hosiery used to kill 
Melissa.

Swearingen has maintained his innocence since being arrested for murder, 
alleging he was in jail at the time of her death. Police searched Sam Houston 
National Forest several times, never finding Melissa’s body. Swearingen 
maintains that Melissa’s body must have been placed there after police searched 
the area and while he was in jail.

Larry Swearingen has received numerous previous execution dates. Many of the 
execution dates were stayed to allow further DNA testing. Additional testing 
has revealed no new information for the case.

Please pray for peace and healing for the family of Melissa Trotter. Please 
pray for strength for the family of Larry. Please pray that if Larry is 
innocent, lacks the competency to be executed, or should not be executed for 
any other reason that evidence will be presented prior to the execution. Please 
pray that Larry may come to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, if 
he has not already found one.

(source for both: theforgivenessfoundation.org)








NORTH CAROLINA:

As Alexander County officials continue to delve into triple homicide, the 
question they now confront: Are 5 people dead?



It’s been over a month since anyone has seen or heard from Maria Calderon 
Martinez, her boyfriend Juan Carlos Mendez-Pena and his friend Luis Fernando 
Sanchez.

“Every day that’s went by is more concern,” Alexander County Sheriff Chris 
Bowman said on Friday.

Martinez’s home on Pine Meadows Lane burned on June 15 and her 2 children – 
Angel Pacheco, 11, and America Pacheco, 12 – were found dead inside early the 
next morning. Teen suspect Heidi Wolfe told investigators that she and suspect 
Areli Aguirre-Avilez discarded Martinez’s body in the Catawba River at 
Riverbend Park.

Wolfe said she ran over and killed Martinez, who the Hickory Daily Record 
previously referred to as Calderon, outside her home, according to search 
warrants.

Rescue personnel searched the water between the Oxford and Lookout Shoals dams 
using drones, a helicopter, rafts and more for over a week, but Martinez’s body 
was never recovered. Bowman said the sheriff’s office hasn’t received any more 
information clarifying or contradicting Martinez’s suspected location.

Sheriff believes Pena and Sanchez could be dead

According to Bowman, investigators are thinking Pena and Sanchez could be dead, 
too.

“Right now, we don’t have physical evidence to show that,” Bowman said. “It’s a 
high probability that they are deceased because, again, at least every other 
day … both would report to their family in Mexico.”

Bowman said Pena and Sanchez’s families have not heard from them since June 15. 
Pena’s blue 2009 Chevrolet Silverado is also yet to be found.

“If we can find the truck, we’re hoping to find some evidence that might lead 
us to the whereabouts of the two individuals, and maybe her,” Bowman said.

The sheriff’s office is continuing to follow all leads related to the search 
that come into the office, including leads that took them to Ashe and Wilkes 
counties to search.

“Carlos (Pena) use to work over in Ashe County at a Christmas tree farm over 
there. That’s one reason that the leads has led us over there to interview and 
talk to some of his friends at this Christmas tree farm,” Bowman said.

The suspects

Avilez, 30, and his 16-year-old girlfriend Wolfe are charged in the triple 
homicide of Martinez and the Pacheco siblings. According to previous reports, 
Avilez is Martinez’s ex-husband.

Avilez and Wolfe are also charged with first-degree arson in connection to 
Martinez’s burned home. According to warrants, there was a strong gasoline odor 
around the burned home after it was extinguished.

Wolfe told investigators that Avilez shot and killed the children in the house 
prior to the fire, warrants say. According to Angel Pacheco’s autopsy report, 
he was shot in the left side of his head. The Hickory Daily Record also 
requested America Pacheco’s autopsy, but the Record has not received the 
report.

The suspects appeared in court on June 21 on three counts each of 1st-degree 
murder. The 1st-degree arson charges were added when Avilez and Wolfe were 
indicted on June 25.

Avilez was additionally indicted on a count of statutory rape of a child 15 
years old or younger that day.

On July 1, Assistant District Attorney Carrie Nitzu signed an application and 
intent notice to seek the death penalty against Avilez.

A note from the sheriff

“I would ask that the Hispanic community not be afraid to come forth and speak 
with law enforcement and give us any information that they may know or learn 
before we would get it, because I don’t want anybody to be afraid to walk in my 
office and figure something might happen to them.”

(source: The Record & Landmark)








TENNESSEE----impending execution

Tennessee planning the August execution of inmate Stephen West



Tennessee is preparing to execute a convicted double murderer who’s been 
sitting on death row since 1987.

Fifty-seven-year-old Stephen West is scheduled to die on August 15.

West was convicted in the 1986 fatal stabbing of Union County residents Wanda 
Romines and her 15-year-old daughter, Sheila. Forensic evidence indicated 
Sheila had been raped and that both women had been tortured.

West insisted at trial that his co-defendant had committed the murders, but 
prosecutors argued the evidence didn't support that contention.

Tennessee executed 68-year-old Donnie Johnson in May. The state is planning 2 
additional executions this year in October and December.

(source: WMOT news)

***********************

Stephen Michael West is scheduled to be executed at 7:10 pm CST, on Thursday, 
August 15, 2019, at the Riverbed Maximum Security Institute in Nashville, 
Tennessee. 56-year-old Stephen has been convicted of the rape and murder of 
51-year-old Wanda Romines and her daughter 15-year-old Sheila on March 17, 
1986, in Lake City, Tennessee. Stephen has spent the last 31 years on 
Tennessee’s death row.

Stephen was born in a mental institution, where his mother was hospitalized. 
According to Stephen’s sister, Stephen was abused by his mother as a child. 
Stephen’s father was an alcoholic who became violent when he drank. Stephen 
graduated high school, where he was an honor student and never had any 
disciplinary problems. Stephen joined the military and served for 3 years in 
Germany. According to Stephen’s attorney, his military records showed that 
Stephen had a drug and alcohol problem during his service. Stephen had no 
criminal record. At the time of his arrest, Stephen was married and his wife 
was pregnant. Prior to his arrest, Stephen worked at McDonalds.

On March 17, 1986, then-23-year-old Stephen West and 17-year-old co-worker 
Ronnie Martin left their job and drove around for several hours, drinking. 
Martin, in whose car they were driving, eventually suggested to West that he 
knew a girl. Martin and West drove to the home of Sheila Romines, one of 
Martin’s classmate who had previously refused his advances and embarrassed him 
in front of other students.

The two waited outside of the home until Mr. Romines left for work. They then 
knocked on the door to the Romines’ home shortly after 5:20 am and were let in 
by Sheila’s mother, Wanda. Between 6:00 am and 8:30 am, Wanda and Sheila were 
raped and murdered. Wanda received several deep stab wounds and torture-type 
wounds, according to a forensic pathologist. Sheila received 17 stab wounds in 
the abdomen, 14 of which were torture-type wounds. It was also determined that 
2 different knives were used, likely by 2 different people.

West and Martin were arrested the following day. Each was charged separately. 
Martin was too young to receive the death penalty and was given 2 life 
sentences. West claimed that although he was present for the crime, he did not 
participate in the murders. He also alleged that Martin threatened to kill him 
and his wife he went to the police. West was ultimately sentenced to death.

Stephen West was previously scheduled to be executed on February 10, 2015. That 
execution was stayed due to an ongoing legal battle over the state’s execution 
protocol.

Please pray for peace and healing for the family of Wanda and Sheila Romines. 
Please pray for the family of Stephen. Please pray that if Stephen is innocent, 
lacks the competency to be executed or should not be executed for any other 
reason, evidence will be presented before he is executed. Please pray that 
Stephen will come to find peace through a personal relationship with Jesus 
Christ, if he has not already.

(source: theforgivenessfoundation.org)






OKLAHOMA:

Ardmore neighbors concerned after 2 shootings in less than a week



Neighbors in Ardmore can't believe 2 seniors were murdered in their community, 
4 miles apart, in less than a week.

One happened early Tuesday morning on Elkwood Section Road. The second happened 
late Thursday night on Ardmore Avenue.

Limestone County deputies found a 74-year-old man shot and killed in his 
backyard Thursday. His wife said he went outside to investigate some noise. 
Police haven't made any arrests or released the identity of the man.

The Limestone County Sheriff's Office said investigators came back out to the 
scene Friday morning to make sure they didn't miss any evidence there Thursday 
night in the dark.

? Elizabeth Mearse said she's lived in Ardmore nearly all her life, and the 
past month, the town's seen more crime than usual.

"People are just sitting there taking people's lives like it's nothing," she 
said. "He or she shot an elderly man. It's like really scary. If you can shoot 
an old man, you can shoot anybody."

It comes just 2 days after 72-year-old Diane Ballard was killed about four 
miles away. The Madison County Sheriff's Office is handling that investigation.

Deputies arrested 2 18-year-old suspects and a 20-year-old suspect on capital 
murder and robbery charges. Investigators are looking for a 4th suspect.

Because it's a capital murder case, the suspects could face the death penalty.

Investigators in Madison and Limestone counties say both murders are isolated 
incidents and no one in the community should be concerned.

Coralee Zampella, a neighbor in Ardmore, can't believe 2 seniors were murdered 
in their community 4 miles apart, in less than a week.

"Total shock. I would never expect that to happen to them people," she said.

Now, she hopes the person responsible for his death will come forward to give 
everyone closure.

"Turn yourself in," she said. "Do the right thing, because that's wrong what 
you did to that man. He didn't deserve any part of that."

(source: WAAY news)

*********************

Trial Date Set for Man Accused in Heinous Metro Murder Case



It was a dramatic day in Cleveland County Court following the formal 
arraignment of Joseph Alliniece.

A trial date was set for February in what investigators are calling a “heinous” 
and “brutal” murder.

Joseph Alliniece is accused of killing Brittani Young in her apartment in April 
of 2018.

Police said he appeared to have used brute force, and stomped Young’s head in.

Alliniece is facing the death penalty, and family hopes that will be his final 
sentence.

They are also advocating that this send a message to suspects of domestic 
violence.

“To just have her ripped from me for no reason, no reason at all. It's so 
senseless,” said Brandi Murphy, the sister of the alleged victim.

Young's own mother discovered her daughter’s body.

She said she came by her apartment to check-on her, and instead walked into the 
crime scene.

But she said she wasn’t the only one to witness what happened.

Alliniece is also accused of kidnapping 2 other victims while he was inside 
Young’s apartment.

Kelly Nipper said she was forced to stand there with her young daughter and 
watch in disbelief.

She is expected to testify in the case.

“I am afraid of reliving that day, but I know when the day comes, God is gonna 
give me the words,” said Nipper.

Family watched Alliniece leave the courtroom, and tensions were high.

Reporter: Joesph anything to say?

Alliniece: (No Response)

Young’s Family: Little b****, that's what you are.

Alliniece: F*** Y'all.

Family ran to confront the suspect, but deputies prevented any physical 
altercations.

Young’s loved ones said they will continue to be patient, and have faith that 
justice will eventually be served.

(source: 9news.com)