Texas inmate kills self day of execution

[Ban Hammer 13,345]

LIVINGSTON, Texas - A death-row inmate slit his own throat with a makeshift knife early Thursday, committing suicide about 15 hours before he was scheduled to be executed, a prison official said.

Michael Dewayne Johnson, 29, was on death row for the 1995 killing of a convenience store clerk near Waco.

Early Thursday, he slashed his own throat and arm with a makeshift blade fashioned from a small piece of metal attached to a wooden stick, said Michelle Lyons, spokeswoman for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in Huntsville.

Prison guards had been checking on Johnson's welfare every 15 minutes, as is customary, when they found him unresponsive in a pool of blood in his cell, Lyons said. He was taken to a hospital in nearby Livingston, where he was pronounced dead, Lyons said.

"At a 2:30 a.m. check, Mr. Johnson was talking to prison staff, and had just eaten breakfast," Lyons said. "He had made no indications that he was contemplating suicide, nor has a note or other explanation been found."

Johnson's execution had been scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday. His last-minute appeal was still pending before the U.S. Supreme Court.

His was at least the seventh suicide on death row in Texas.

In a recent prison interview, Johnson had denied gunning down 27-year-old Jeff Wetterman, who helped pump gas at the family store off Interstate 35 near Waco. Johnson blamed his companion, David Vest, for the killing.

"I never even saw the dude," Johnson said. "(Vest) jumped back into the car and we took off. He hollered: 'Go! Go! Go!'"

Vest blamed the shooting on Johnson, took an eight-year prison term in a plea deal and testified against his friend. Vest is now free.

Johnson's attorney Greg White argued in his client's Supreme Court appeal that Vest had admitted to the shooting but that the confession was improperly suppressed, depriving Johnson of a fair trial.

Johnson would have been the 22nd Texas inmate executed this year. The state now has 390 people on death row.

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[TracyLuis 0]

Since it was inevitable....but, still - how gruesome!

[mawilson 2,133]

I applaud the man. It's always better to go on your own terms.

[Savanphil 3]

Yikes.....I can't imagine

[I'm Gone 60]

I sure hope this doesn't set off a bunch of copy cats. wink wink

[peejay 327]

He should have done it before he went on trial and saved the state of Texas and the taxpayer a bundle of money.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

He should have done it before he went on trial and saved the state of Texas and the taxpayer a bundle of money.

Flaws in your logic

• he was hoping for release by claiming "unfair trial"
  
• pretrial suicide would show a remorse he never had.
  

Edited October 19, 2006 by CherryXS

[Alex+R 0]

I'm happy any time people are denied the smug satisfaction of murdering someone else in the name of an eye for an eye.

[Fandango 1,439]

I'm happy any time people are denied the smug satisfaction of murdering someone else in the name of an eye for an eye.

erm, but he's dead anyways

[Alex+R 0]

I'm happy any time people are denied the smug satisfaction of murdering someone else in the name of an eye for an eye.

erm, but he's dead anyways

Yeah, but at least he did it. I'm pretty sure the prisoner saw a difference between suicide and being killed by the state, especially when the way the state kills you probably hurts a lot less than slitting your own throat (although it is in Texas, so you never know).

[Ban Hammer 13,345]

I'm happy any time people are denied the smug satisfaction of murdering someone else in the name of an eye for an eye.

erm, but he's dead anyways

Yeah, but at least he did it. I'm pretty sure the prisoner saw a difference between suicide and being killed by the state, especially when the way the state kills you probably hurts a lot less than slitting your own throat (although it is in Texas, so you never know).

yeah, draw and quarter is still a punishment

[Fandango 1,439]

I'm happy any time people are denied the smug satisfaction of murdering someone else in the name of an eye for an eye.

erm, but he's dead anyways

Yeah, but at least he did it. I'm pretty sure the prisoner saw a difference between suicide and being killed by the state, especially when the way the state kills you probably hurts a lot less than slitting your own throat (although it is in Texas, so you never know).

But the point is, the end result is still the same. If you're against the death penalty, hearing about this shouldn't give you any consolation...he was pretty much forced into killing himself...I doubt the people who wanted him dead were all 'damn! I couldn't press the button!'....they're still happy he's dead, so end of the day...result for them.

[Alex+R 0]

I'm happy any time people are denied the smug satisfaction of murdering someone else in the name of an eye for an eye.

erm, but he's dead anyways

Yeah, but at least he did it. I'm pretty sure the prisoner saw a difference between suicide and being killed by the state, especially when the way the state kills you probably hurts a lot less than slitting your own throat (although it is in Texas, so you never know).

But the point is, the end result is still the same. If you're against the death penalty, hearing about this shouldn't give you any consolation...he was pretty much forced into killing himself...I doubt the people who wanted him dead were all 'damn! I couldn't press the button!'....they're still happy he's dead, so end of the day...result for them.

Yes and no. What he did was of his own free will, though, so it makes a difference to me, and apparently to him. People do tend to get upset about suicides or sudden deaths before executions a lot of people have been thirsting for. It's just not the same when they don't get to press the button. In many people's eyes, because of his suicide justice has not been served.

[mawilson 2,133]

I'm happy any time people are denied the smug satisfaction of murdering someone else in the name of an eye for an eye.

[Ban Hammer 13,345]

In many people's eyes, because of his suicide justice has not been served.

i suppose they could still strap him in ol sparky and fire his corpse up

Edited October 19, 2006 by charlesandnessa