"Tonight, Billy George Hughes Jr. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1976 that it was all right for states to resume capital punishment. Louisiana Death Records. At this point, Trooper Frederick, who was driving, turned on the overhead lights, and Hughes pulled over to the shoulder of the exit ramp. George, George, he's our man, If he can't kill 'em, no one can, Who's the best on the killing scene? The groups gather on opposite sides of the street facing one another. In June 1988, Hughes was retried for Mark Frederick's capital murder in the the 23rd District Court of Matagorda County, Texas. The staff replied in kind, "Billy if you get a stay, we'll let you drive back!" Pardons are for wimps! On the evening of April 4, 1976, two Texas state troopers pulled over the 1975 Ford LTD Billy George Hughes was driving on Interstate 10 near Sealy, Texas. Lethal Injection "It was truly disgusting," said Clements. His writing has been published in a large number of periodicals and journals for the past twenty years. She graduated from Spruce Creek H The cheerleaders spelled out the letters as they called them: Gimme a "D" Gimme an "E" Gimme an "A" Gimme a "T" Gimme an "H" What's that spell? While in Nashville, Hughes purchased a .45 automatic handgun with another stolen check and stole an Alabama license plate from another car. He died on December 20, 2005 in Alma, Arkansas, USA. In the years since the murder, Teer noted, Hughes has twice been tried and sentenced to die. They have the routine down pat: There were seven executions in just over two weeks last month; there have been 119 since George W. took office. On June 17, 1997, the trial court scheduled Hughes's execution for September 19, 1997. As soon as Ranger Scholton pointed his gun out the helicopter at Hughes, Hughes dropped his weapon and was taken into custody. Date of Death: December 20, 2005. After the clerk left his room, Hughes got into his car and sped away on Interstate 10 heading west. The suspect, Hughes, at first pointed a pistol at the helicopter, but then threw the gun down and surrendered. But Atwood said he was ultimately saddened by the pain the event could happened. ", Clements said that members of a production company that filmed the When the clerk confronted Hughes in his room about the stolen card, she noticed a gun on his bed. The Court of Criminal Appeals denied Hughes's request for relief on February 26, 1997. During "Mr. Hughes has told a number of stories over the years," he continued. June 28, 2000 / 4:39 PM / CBS. being filmed. Hughes also claimed to have kidnapped two small children. Born November 28, 1948 Died December 20, 2005 (57) years to get to this moment? say they happened, and the truth will come out someday. They have been manipulated by the politicians who have set up this "death machine" that seems to be functioning on automatic pilot. "Stand Up and Holler; A Huntsville execution draws a strange crowd," by Lauren Kern. he asked, pushing the limits of playing dumb. In typical Billy fashion, he said he would go with the guards on this 20 minute ride on one condition: They would let him drive. Approximately two-and-a-half days after the shooting, Texas Ranger Ray Scholton, who was in charge of the investigation, received a report that a possible suspect had been sighted six miles south of Sealy. family," he said. The rhetoric between the two sides heated up again this week, as it does whenever the state passes a death penalty milestone or carries out a particularly controversial execution. "They were doing synchronized family has to go through what we have been through. The troopers were responding to a dispatcher's report that a man driving a similar car had attempted to use a stolen credit card at a nearby motel. Handgun "They're not here all the time?" Hughes next headed for Jacksonville, Florida, where he sawed off the barrel of the shotgun as short as possible and concealed it in his trunk. In a prepared statement, Teer said her family finally will be able to go While Billy seemed to be in total control, I was starting to spin out-of-control with a certain "makes me wanta holler" anger and frustration. PROCEDURAL HISTORY The implications are obvious. "We definitely agree with the death penalty," said Bethanie Barnett, a Houston paralegal and leader of Gulf Coast Survivors of Homicide. There were "wisecracks" and jokes, even gallows humor. Teer thanked several people before adding, "I hope and pray that no other You could actually see the realization come over the faces of those in the pro-death-penalty camp: Hey, wait a minute. Executions have been on hold in Florida since July, when a possible malfunction in "Old Sparky" caused Allen Davis to bleed profusely through his nose as he died.) On September 16, 1976, a jury found Hughes guilty of capital murder. But George W. Bush, Jr. deserves all the credit he's due for his eager, cynical promotion of capital punishment. They are executing an innocent man because things did not happen as they say they happened, and the truth will come out some day. On the other side is an army of capital punishment opponents arguing that the state is getting carried away . "What if I receive a stay?" P, P-O, P-O-W-E-R . Dave Hamilton, a producer for Moore's cable television show, "The Awful As the helicopter hovered a few feet above the ground, Hughes pointed a gun at the helicopter. On April 13, 1994, that court affirmed his conviction in a published opinion. Then, just after Hughes was executed, pompon waving cheerleaders and outside the Huntsville "Walls" Unit for the Monday night execution of "I bet you have Monica Lewinsky sex!" Protest signs are waved. wearing a helmet. "For Many, Supporting Capital Punishment is a Personal Matter," by Allan Turner. On June 9, 1988, a jury found Hughes guilty of the charged capital offense. On March 30, 1976, Hughes left Montgomery for Louisiana, where he used Martin's credit card for food, motels, and gasoline. State After the morning visit, Billy was transported from death row at the Ellis Unit to the Walls Unit in Huntsville where the execution would take place. Hughes then returned to Fair Hope and retrieved some clothing from a cleaners and attempted to fake his death at a local beach by leaving his shirt and pager. wearing a helmet. Method His conviction was reversed in 1981 and he has since been serving a life sentence. I want the guys to know out there not to give up, P, P-O, P-O-W-E-R . He's a killing machine! William F. Buckley never met Billy Hughes. All I ask is that I have one day, and all the memories of you and my family and all the things that have happened. happened. Juniors Bush and Buckley are made uncomfortable when the machinery which maintains the minutiae of state sanctioned murder slips a cog and allows the rest of the world a glimpse of the human suffering that touches everyoneassociated in the ritualized revenge that capital murder extracts. death penalty supporters seemed to join the stunt before realizing it was Ranger Scholton went to the location by helicopter, where he spotted Hughes hiding under a mesquite tree in a pasture. They deny the self evident, mesmerized, perhaps, by their mutual admiration, their incestuous and cannibalistic self-promotion. I immediately confronted him asking how could he be part of this execution. Execute, execute, sis, boom, bah . In his testimony at trial, Hughes related the details of a lengthy crime spree that ended with the capital murder of Trooper Mark Frederick. -- supported by Pope John Paul II, the Rev. cheers, and there was some guy without a shirt on, painted blue and attorney at Hughes' 2nd trial, also felt Hughes' claims of innocence Frederick on Interstate 10 in Sealy as Frederick walked toward Hughes' "We did perform a stunt there, with a pep band and cheerleaders," While unexpected and downright surreal, I think that marching bands and cheerleaders are just what are needed at Texas Chants are shouted and exchanged. A few days later, Hughes returned to Chattanooga where he bought ten-dollar traveler's checks, cashed two, reported all ten stolen and received a one-hundred dollar refund. Wayne Hughes Jr.; daughter, Tamara Hughes Gustavson; and four grandchildren. Undoubtedly, Billy Hughes was an exceptional human being. seeking justice, living our worst nightmares over and over and over. "But in fact it showed great disrespect for Officer Mark Frederick, the Killing power! The cheerleaders were rocking out with all the intensity of a step club, but the witnesses had just emerged from the watching area, and both those for and against the death penalty turned to show their support. At that time 25 years old, Hughes had served time Perform a free North Carolina public death records search, including death certificates, death indexes, deceased records, death registers & registries, obituaries, and death notices. 608th murderer executed in U.S. since 1976 protecting the public when he stopped Billy Hughes on April 4, 1976, and The pro/con groups are accustomed to their respective public roles in Texas' ongoing bacchanalia of barbarity. coming together to protest what both saw as a "disgusting display" The chaplain replied that at least he is there and sometimes he is the only one there for the person being executed. "All I ask is that I have one day, and following an execution. Hughes then decided to head back to Pensacola, but he first bought gas and food with another worthless check. "If there was a positive out of this, for the first time ever the 2 Glen McGinnis who was executed the next evening after Billy was only 17 when he committed the murder. If you don't agree with us, we'll kill you too. death penalty after the Hughes execution Monday. There was little in common between the 2 distinct groups gathered Warden." The victims' rights group Justice for All was already more boisterous than normal on this particular night at death row because of the man who was being executed. "I would gladly trade the last 24 years if it would bring back Mark They believe the sentence is ineffective and immoral, that Texas, with its death row population in excess of 400 , is running a death mill. All of this is as obvious as the fallacy of "an eye for an eye" justification for capital punishment, which leaves the whole world execution, complete with cheerleaders and a marching band. William Morris Hughes (known affectionately as 'Billy') was born in London, UK, on 25 September 1862. Executions have been on hold in Florida since July, when a possible malfunction in "Old Sparky" caused Allen Davis to bleed profusely through his nose as he died.) "You did this!" New restrictions have made it impossible for the LHP to continue to be governed by prisoners. There also were several people dressed as cheerleaders leading chants seeking justice, living our worst nightmares over and over and over. blind. "He's a very manipulative individual and to claim that he was innocent ProDeathPenalty.com Protest signs are waved. The death penalty brings out the worst sentiments of society and does nothing for victims. These death row cheerleaders aren't on our side after all. Billy Hughes (actor) Death: and Cause of Death On December 20, 2005, Billy Hughes (actor) died of non-communicable disease. Hamilton said. The show that has invited an HMO to a funeral, put a 24-hour Web cam on Lucianne Goldberg and earned a restraining order from the CEO of the biggest polluter in America this time recruited some like-minded actors/activists from Houston's maverick theater company Infernal Bridegroom Productions and descended on Huntsville. It wasn't so long ago that the institution of slavery along with maiming, stoning, burning at the stake, drawing and quartering, public flogging and a plethora of other "punishments" were held sacrosanct as "the law." will come about, something will be resolved. The database also contains older death records for some parishes, such as deaths that occurred in Jefferson parish before 1911, and deaths that occurred in Orleans parish as early as . In a place where affiliations are always clearly delineated, this was as infuriating as the cheerleaders themselves. C.U.R.E. filming an 'anti-Bush' commercial aimed at impeding Gov. Date ofBirth approached Hughes car. Frederick - give him back his life, give back my father his life and my Thank you, Perform a free public death records search, including death certificates, death indexes, deceased records, death registers & registries, obituaries, and death notices. Florida oranges, Texas cactus We kill convicts just for practice! Thank you, Warden." Hughes' second conviction and sentence were automatically appealed to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. "What if after examination the doctor detects a heartbeat?" Hughes next headed for Jacksonville, Florida, where he sawed off the barrel of the shotgun as short as possible and concealed it in his trunk. During his investigation, Agent Owens also learned that Hughes had previously threatened to kill a young child and had frequently beat his wife when she complained of his criminal conduct. The Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty stood at the right end of the same yellow tape, forming a circle and singing "We Shall Overcome." "I'll be happy not to hear any more lies," she added. Lethal injection, rah, rah, rah! everything," he said. Both Rounds and Hughes were members of the Jehovah's Witnesses until Hughes was expelled from the group for incessant lying and bad-check writing. Tears are often shed in the emotional catharsis of ritualized confrontation. He's a killing machine! penalty, which I agree with," he said, adding that initially some of the On Christmas Day, Billy was found dead. But, most of all, "partying" was a lot of laughs. . Trooper Frederick exited the police car and walked up to the driver's side door of Hughes's car. can now rest in peace and our nightmares will end knowing that Billy As he approached the vehicle, Hughes -- wanted for theft by credit card -- opened fire. "REFLECTIONS OF A WITNESS AT AN EXECUTION," by Charles Sullivan. Texas began executing killers again in 1982, and the one-way march to the death house gurney is quicker now than at any time in the past 13 years. Most of these words came from Billy who was interrupted occasionally with the details of his impending execution. His zodiac sign is Sagittarius. Kill 'em to the left. In a place where affiliations are always clearly delineated, this was as infuriating as the cheerleaders themselves. Trooper Jack Reichert got out of the patrol car almost immediately after Frederick did. escapade had misrepresented themselves and hyped aspects of the event, criticized General Motors executives. This chaplain pointedly said, "the doctor is in the next room, not in the execution chamber. Approaching the Ford behind Frederick, Reichert heard a muffled shot and observed Frederick grunt and lurch to the side. He comes in only to pronounce death."