SAN ANTONIO – It was once a chilling bankruptcy from Texas’ previous.
On Dec. 13, 2000, a bold get away from the Connally Unit in South Texas despatched shockwaves via the country as a gaggle of unhealthy criminals pulled off a bold prison wreck.
12 is looking again at the get away, the huge manhunt, the homicide of Irving Police Officer Aubrey Hawkins, and what one of the last remaining members has to mention from demise row.
The Escape
Located in Karnes County proper off Highway 181, the John B. Connally Unit is a maximum-security prison that homes simply over 2,000 inmates.
In 2000, George Rivas, Michael Anthony Rodriguez, Donald Newbury, Patrick Murphy, Larry Harper, Randy Halprin and Joseph Garcia deliberate the get away for months.
“George Rivas was planning this for a long time. I probably became active in the planning in the last six months,” Murphy stated.
Murphy is lately at the Polunsky Unit, or demise row, in Livingston, Texas.
He spoke to us about the making plans that went into the get away.
All seven of the males have been in prison for critical crimes starting from irritated attack to kid abuse to homicide.
On the day they escaped, the males overpowered civilian workers and prison guards and stole their clothes and IDs round 11:20 a.m.
The sufferers have been left subconscious and tied up within {an electrical} room.
They have been then ready to subdue the guard in an eye tower and pressure off in a repairs truck. Rodriguez’s father had left in the back of a automotive out of doors the prison.
Massive Manhunt
The seek started for the seven males who had pulled off the inconceivable. Multiple businesses have been eager about one of the biggest manhunts in Texas historical past.
Their faces have been all over, and the media quickly dubbed them the Texas 7.
As they made their manner throughout Texas, they ended up in Irving on Dec. 24, 2000.
The plan to start with was once to rob the wearing items retailer Oshman’s, in keeping with Murphy. He was once sitting out of doors in a automobile as a lookout and tracking radios.
“I warned them that there was a police officer in the area, and I actually told them to get out, to leave, but they didn’t,” Murphy stated.
He stated he was once suggested to pressure away, which he stated he did.
While seeking to get away the retailer via the again door, the males encountered Irving Police Officer Aubrey Hawkins.
All six males within started taking pictures at Hawkins. He was once shot 11 instances and was once then run over through Rivas as they fled.
The males weren’t noticed or heard from for weeks till a tip in overdue January got here in that they have been noticed in Colorado.
They have been staying in a trailer park close to Woodland Park, Colorado, close to Colorado Springs.
Rivas and 3 others have been captured there. Harper died through suicide sooner than being captured. After a standoff, the last two have been captured at a Colorado Springs resort.
The six-week manhunt was once now over. The six males that have been now in custody have been introduced again to Texas, and every one would later be convicted of capital homicide and sentenced to the demise penalty.
Death Row
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Four of the six males have since been done. Two stay on demise row — Randy Halprin and Patrick Murphy.
Now 62, Murphy doesn’t do many interviews after his last keep of execution. Nothing was once off-limits after we spoke with him.
He stated he doesn’t in reality like the label “the Texas 7″ but understands that’s what they were.
Murphy met the other men as six of them worked in the maintenance department.
He was initially convicted of aggravated sexual assault and had only about five years left of his sentence at the time of the escape.
“I regret it every day,” Murphy stated.
He stated he isn’t the identical particular person he was once sooner than. Years in the past, he transformed to Buddhism and spoke in duration about how it has helped him be extra at peace and calls his previous a “bad period of time.”
On March 28, 2019, Murphy totally anticipated that to be his last day alive as he was once scheduled to be done.
“At the time, I was probably as prepared as I could have been,” Murphy stated. “Emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually prepared to take that step into my next life.”
Murphy, at the time, had asked a Buddhist religious chief to be provide within the execution room. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice denied his request. His legal professional filed an attraction, arguing Murphy’s non secular rights have been violated.
Already in Huntsville, Murphy had his last meal, made his last telephone calls and was once waiting for to be walked over and strapped to the gurney.
The execution was once scheduled to start out at 6 p.m., however the hours began going through, and no one got here to get him.
“I spent four hours looking into the valley of the shadow of death, and I stepped back from it,” Murphy stated.
Eventually, the assistant warden got here in to inform him a keep of execution have been granted.
“I was really very shocked,” Murphy stated. “I don’t know what to say. I didn’t know how to act. It was like I was relieved, but at the same time, I was kind of disappointed.”
Eight months later, some other execution date was once given, however once more, it was once halted. A U.S. District Judge dominated that Murphy had demonstrated legitimate considerations about TDCJ’s execution coverage.
Almost 5 years later, Murphy hasn’t been given a brand new date however believes it may just nonetheless occur.
“I’m pretty much of the opinion that if I do get a third date, it probably would be the one,” Murphy stated.
He doesn’t deny his crimes however doesn’t consider he must had been given the demise penalty as he didn’t participate in Hawkins’ homicide.
In Texas, the regulation of events makes him an automated associate, and since of that, he were given the identical conviction as the others. Regardless, as a Buddhist, he says he seeks peace and acceptance.
“We did this. Let’s move on,” Murphy stated. “As a Buddhist, we try to do something better, and that’s what I’m trying to do.”
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