Alvin Crane was executed by the State of Texas for the murder of Ochiltree County Chief Deputy Melvin Drum
According to court documents Alvin Crane would be involved in a domestic situation and the police were called. Before Ochiltree County Chief Deputy Melvin Drum could get out of his vehicle Crane would walk over and fatally shoot the Officer
Alvin Crane would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death
Alvin Crane would be executed by lethal injection on October 12 1999
Alvin Crane Photos
Alvin Crane Case
A 41-year-old former oil field worker was executed Tuesday in Texas for the 1987 shotgun slaying of a deputy sheriff responding to a domestic disturbance call. Alvin Wayne Crane was pronounced dead at 7:23 p.m. EDT shortly after receiving a lethal injection at the state prison in Huntsville.
In his final statement, Crane apologized to the family of Ochiltree County Deputy Melvin Drum, who was killed near Perryton, Texas in the Panhandle. ‘I’d like to say I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘I know I caused you a lot of pain and suffering. I hope this brings you some peace and comfort. I’m sorry for everything.’ Liza Drum, the victim’s daughter-in-law, was among several witnesses at the execution. Drum’s son is dead. Crane also had final words for two members of his own family. ‘I love you and God loves you too,’ he said. ‘Trust in him and everything will be just fine.’ Crane also addressed District Attorney Bruce Roberson and Ochiltree County Sheriff Joe Hataway, who were witnesses. He told them he was ‘sorry’ and that ‘everyone treated me with respect.’ Earlier in the day the U.S. Supreme Court denied Crane’s last request for a stay of execution. Justice John Paul Stevens and Ruth Bader Ginsburg indicated they had voted to stop the execution, but gave no further comment. Richard Ellis, Crane’s attorney, told the Amarillo Globe-News earlier that he had requested the stay on grounds that Crane had ineffective legal representation at his 1987 trial in Denton, Texas on a change of venue.
Crane shot Drum in the face with a 16-gauge shotgun after Drum responded to a domestic disturbance call involving Crane and his wife. The 57-year-old deputy was found slumped over the steering wheel of his patrol car. About two hours later Crane was arrested in Beaver County, Okla., about 40 miles north of the scene of the shooting. He fought extradition and staged a nine-day hunger strike but was returned to Texas. Crane had escaped the executioner nine years ago. He won a stay from the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals less than 15 hours before he was slated to receive a dose of lethal drugs at Huntsville. Crane did not apply for clemency from Gov. George W. Bush. Crane was the 26th convicted killer executed in Texas this year and 190th since the state revived the death penalty in 1982.
