Joe Trevino was executed by the State of Texas for the murder of Blanche Miller
According to court documents Joe Trevino would break into the home of eighty year old Blanche Miller. The elderly woman would be sexually assaulted, murdered and her home would be robbed
Joe Trevino would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death
Joe Trevino would be executed by lethal injection on August 18 1999
Joe Trevino Photos
Joe Trevino Case
Joe Mario Trevino Jr., 36, was executed by lethal injection on 18 August 1999 in Huntsville, Texas for the rape, robbery, and murder of a woman in her home.
On 17 January 1983, Trevino, then 20, broke into the Haltom City home of Blanche Miller, 80, entering the home through a kitchen window while Miller was away. He began looking for valuables to steal. When Miller returned, Trevino raped and strangled her. Trevino then loaded Miller’s car with a television, some stereo equipment, jewelry, and other items, and stole the car.
Miller’s body was discovered later that day by her granddaughter. A witness who recognized Trevino and saw him at the house notified police. Police recovered the stolen car a few hours later. The stolen stereo was found in Trevino’s residence. Semen and footprints found at the murder scene were also tied to Trevino.
In his confession, Trevino stated that he had used cocaine and heroin the morning of the murder. He said that he went out to look for work when he saw Miller leaving her home and decided to “break in and steal some stuff.” He stated that Miller had already let him take her jewelry and silverware, and he was loading his car with stereo equipment, when she grabbed a telephone and tried to call for help. That was when, Trevino stated, “I took the phone away from her and went crazy.” He said he cut parts of her clothing off with a knife and raped her. “She was screaming out, and I was holding my hands around her neck. I began strangling her. Before I knew it, she quit breathing. I got up and turned the gas on and lit a candle in the living room. I figured this would blow the house up.”
Trevino had a previous conviction for auto theft and burglary of a building. He served two years of a 5-year sentence from October 1980 until he was paroled in September 1982.
https://www.txexecutions.org/reports/185-Joe-Trevino-Jr..htm