Texas Executes Man for 2001 Murder

30th Execution of 2010

Michael James Perry was was pronounced dead at 11:17 p.m. on Thursday, July 1, 2010 in Huntsville, Texas. He was executed by lethal injection. Perry was the 14th inmate executed in Texas and the 30th in the United States this year.

Perry was convicted of murdering Sandra Stolter a nurse during a 2001 car-jacking. He shot Stolter in the back with a shotgun. He was also present when Stolter's son was murdered along with a friend.

Perry confessed to the killing, he told the police after his arrest, "I know it's the needle and I want to save everybody the trouble and just confess."

He later recanted his confession and denied the offense until the bitter end,'I'm not supposed to be here,'" he told The Associated Press from death row. "I try not to focus on it (execution)." he said. "I focus on my case, the Bible, my family."

The next execution scheduled in the United States is that of Ohio's William Gardner. He is scheduled for execution on July 13, 2010.

To read more: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D9GMDHJ81.html