James Colburn was executed by the State of Texas for the murder of Peggy Murphy
According to court documents Peggy Murphy was hitchhiking outside of the residence of James Colburn. Colburn invited the woman into his home and soon after attempted to sexually assault her however Murphy would fight back. Colburn would strangle the woman causing her death then would stab her repeatedly. Colburn would go to a neighbors home and call the police
James Colburn would be arrested, convicted and sentenced to death
James Colburn would be executed by lethal injection on March 26 2003
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When Was James Colburn Executed
James Colburn was executed on March 26 2003
James Colburn Case
Five months ago on Nov. 6, James Colburn received a stay of execution one minute before being moved to the death chamber. On Wednesday evening, the 43-year-old ran out of time and appeals, and was put to death for the murder of a hitchhiker inside his Conroe-area apartment in 1994. ”None of this should have happened and now that I’m dying there is nothing left to worry about,” Colburn said in a brief final statement. ”I know it was a mistake. I have no one to blame but myself.”
Colburn suffered from paranoid schizophrenia. Prosecutors, who didn’t dispute Colburn’s mental illness, claimed he was competent and understood why he was facing lethal injection. Colburn was a repeat offender who was on parole when arrested for the capital murder of 55-year-old Peggy Louise Murphy.
”None of this should have happened and now that I’m dying there is nothing left to worry about,” Colburn said in a brief final statement. ”I know it was a mistake. I have no one to blame but myself.” “I pray that everyone involved overlooks the stupidity,” he said, adding he was at peace. “Everybody has problems and I won’t be part of the problem any more. I can quit worrying now.” Colburn made one final comment as the lethal dose of drugs entered his system. ”It’s going to be like passing out on drugs,” he said. He gasped slightly and his eyes closed. He was pronounced dead at 6:21 p.m., eight minutes after the flow of drugs began.
Tina Morris, Colburn’s sister, expressed her anger with the state of Texas after watching her brother die. ”The state we fought so hard to help with his illness just killed my brother,” said Morris, who sobbed throughout the execution. ”The state has killed a very mentally ill man.” Members of Murphy’s family, who stood motionless and silent throughout the execution, declined to comment afterward.
According to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Colburn reportedly lured 55-year-old Peggy Louise Murphy to his apartment where he attempted to rape her. When she resisted, Colburn stabbed her several times with a kitchen knife and strangled her. Following the killing, Colburn went to a neighboring apartment and asked its residents to notify the sheriff’s department. Arrest reports indicated that Colburn told authorities that he killed the woman because he wanted to return to prison.
The Supreme Court last year halted executions of the mentally retarded as unconstitutionally cruel and unusual punishment, but the justices so far have refused such blanket protection for the mentally ill. But without comment in January, the justices refused to review his appeal, lifted the reprieve and Montgomery County authorities rescheduled the execution. The Supreme Court denied two stays Wednesday night shortly before the execution. The execution was the 12th this year in Texas.
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