One of the infamous Texas Seven who on December 13, 2000, seven convicts, Joseph Garcia, Randy Halprin, Larry Harper, Patrick Murphy jr., Donald Newbury, George Rivas jr., and Michael Garcia, broke out of a maximum-security prison in South Texas, setting off a massive six-week manhunt. Evidence showed the gang led by George Rivas, who had been sentenced to 17 life prison terms, overpowered prison workers as well as civilian employees and prison guards in the maintenance shop where they worked and stole clothing, as well as guns from the prison armory before escaping in a prison truck; the escapees were dubbed the "Texas Seven" by the media. "Rivas was the leader and would do the talking and Newbury was one of the guys standing with the gun and threatening everybody," said Toby Shook, the former Dallas county assistant district attorney who prosecuted both. "Rivas was using him as his muscle."
Two days later, Rivas and Newbury held up a store, taking electronics – including police radio scanners. Following an episode of the television show America's Most Wanted, that first aired on January 20, 2001, several people phoned in possible sightings of the suspects at the Coach light Motel and R.V. Park in Woodland Park, Colorado. They had apparently tried to pass themselves off as missionaries, playing loud Christian music within earshot of their neighbors. The El Paso County Sheriff's Office, Colorado, and Teller County Deputies SWAT team found Garcia, Rodriguez, and Rivas in a Jeep Cherokee in the RV Park, before following them to a nearby gas station where they were arrested, and later found Halprin and Harper in an RV; Halprin surrendered peacefully, but Harper was found dead after a standoff, having shot himself in the chest with a pistol. The surviving four, including Newbury, were taken into federal custody. Donald Newbury was sentenced to death and the punishment was carried out after Newbury lost a last-day appeal to the US supreme court. His attorneys had argued previous lawyers were deficient and courts did not provide adequate money for a defense expert to illustrate how Newbury's abusive childhood may have influenced his violent behavior. He was executed during the evening of Wednesday, February 4, 2015 for the fatal shooting of 29-year-old Aubrey Hawkins, a police officer who interrupted the fugitives' robbery of a sporting goods store on Christmas Eve in 2000. Officer Hawkins was shot 11 times, his bullet-ridden body pulled from his squad car and then run over with a stolen SUV. The fugitives fled with $70,000, 44 firearms, and ammunition, plus jewelry and wallets from store employees who were closing up for the evening.
When asked to make a final statement, Newbury mumbled: "I would. That each new indignity defeats only the body. Pampering the spirit with obscure merit. I love you all. That's it."As the lethal dose of pentobarbital took effect, he closed his eyes, then took a deep breath and began snoring. After about a dozen snores, each a bit quieter, he stopped all movement.
He was pronounced dead 11 minutes later, at 6.25 pm.
About two dozen police officers stood at attention outside the Huntsville prison. Several supporters of the slain officer were on motorcycles outside, and as Newbury was taking his final breaths, the roar of revving engines could be heard inside the death chamber.∼Executed by TDCJ #521 since 1982, the 3rd of 2015.
While on escape from TDCJ in December 2000, Newbury and 6 co-defendants robbed a sporting goods store at gunpoint. Irving Police Officer, Aubrey Wright Hawkins was murdered outside the store as Newbury and co-defendants left the scene.
At the time of the escape, Rodriguez was serving a life sentence for capital murder after hiring a man to kill his wife Theresa for an insurance policy worth $250,000 in 1994.
On December 24, 2000, they held up an Oshman's sports store, stealing 44 guns. Irving Police Officer Aubrey Hawkins responded to the call, arrived on the scene and was almost immediately ambushed; his autopsy would show that he had sustained eleven gunshots and his body had been run over by the fleeing gang.
After Officer Hawkins' murder, a $100,000 reward was offered to whoever could snare the group of criminals. The reward would climb to $500,000 before the group was apprehended.
They were apprehended January 21-23 2001 in Colorado, as a direct result of the television show America's Most Wanted.
*******************************************************
Rodriguez was one of the infamous "Texas Seven,"
The Texas 7 was a group of prisoners who escaped from the John Connally Unit near Kennedy, Texas on December 13, 2000.
The group was composed of the following Texas state prisoners:
Joseph C. Garcia-Sentenced to death on 2/14/2003
Randy Ethan Halprin-Sentenced to death on 6/12/2003
Larry James Harper (deceased by suicide)
Donald Keith Newbury- executed 02/04/2015
Patrick Henry Murphy, Jr.-Sentenced to death on 11/20/2003
George Rivas (Ringleader)-executed 02/29/2012
Michael Anthony Rodriguez- executed 8/14/2008
Two days later, Rivas and Newbury held up a store, taking electronics – including police radio scanners. Following an episode of the television show America's Most Wanted, that first aired on January 20, 2001, several people phoned in possible sightings of the suspects at the Coach light Motel and R.V. Park in Woodland Park, Colorado. They had apparently tried to pass themselves off as missionaries, playing loud Christian music within earshot of their neighbors. The El Paso County Sheriff's Office, Colorado, and Teller County Deputies SWAT team found Garcia, Rodriguez, and Rivas in a Jeep Cherokee in the RV Park, before following them to a nearby gas station where they were arrested, and later found Halprin and Harper in an RV; Halprin surrendered peacefully, but Harper was found dead after a standoff, having shot himself in the chest with a pistol. The surviving four, including Newbury, were taken into federal custody. Donald Newbury was sentenced to death and the punishment was carried out after Newbury lost a last-day appeal to the US supreme court. His attorneys had argued previous lawyers were deficient and courts did not provide adequate money for a defense expert to illustrate how Newbury's abusive childhood may have influenced his violent behavior. He was executed during the evening of Wednesday, February 4, 2015 for the fatal shooting of 29-year-old Aubrey Hawkins, a police officer who interrupted the fugitives' robbery of a sporting goods store on Christmas Eve in 2000. Officer Hawkins was shot 11 times, his bullet-ridden body pulled from his squad car and then run over with a stolen SUV. The fugitives fled with $70,000, 44 firearms, and ammunition, plus jewelry and wallets from store employees who were closing up for the evening.
When asked to make a final statement, Newbury mumbled: "I would. That each new indignity defeats only the body. Pampering the spirit with obscure merit. I love you all. That's it."As the lethal dose of pentobarbital took effect, he closed his eyes, then took a deep breath and began snoring. After about a dozen snores, each a bit quieter, he stopped all movement.
He was pronounced dead 11 minutes later, at 6.25 pm.
About two dozen police officers stood at attention outside the Huntsville prison. Several supporters of the slain officer were on motorcycles outside, and as Newbury was taking his final breaths, the roar of revving engines could be heard inside the death chamber.∼Executed by TDCJ #521 since 1982, the 3rd of 2015.
While on escape from TDCJ in December 2000, Newbury and 6 co-defendants robbed a sporting goods store at gunpoint. Irving Police Officer, Aubrey Wright Hawkins was murdered outside the store as Newbury and co-defendants left the scene.
At the time of the escape, Rodriguez was serving a life sentence for capital murder after hiring a man to kill his wife Theresa for an insurance policy worth $250,000 in 1994.
On December 24, 2000, they held up an Oshman's sports store, stealing 44 guns. Irving Police Officer Aubrey Hawkins responded to the call, arrived on the scene and was almost immediately ambushed; his autopsy would show that he had sustained eleven gunshots and his body had been run over by the fleeing gang.
After Officer Hawkins' murder, a $100,000 reward was offered to whoever could snare the group of criminals. The reward would climb to $500,000 before the group was apprehended.
They were apprehended January 21-23 2001 in Colorado, as a direct result of the television show America's Most Wanted.
*******************************************************
Rodriguez was one of the infamous "Texas Seven,"
The Texas 7 was a group of prisoners who escaped from the John Connally Unit near Kennedy, Texas on December 13, 2000.
The group was composed of the following Texas state prisoners:
Joseph C. Garcia-Sentenced to death on 2/14/2003
Randy Ethan Halprin-Sentenced to death on 6/12/2003
Larry James Harper (deceased by suicide)
Donald Keith Newbury- executed 02/04/2015
Patrick Henry Murphy, Jr.-Sentenced to death on 11/20/2003
George Rivas (Ringleader)-executed 02/29/2012
Michael Anthony Rodriguez- executed 8/14/2008
One of the infamous Texas Seven who on December 13, 2000, seven convicts, Joseph Garcia, Randy Halprin, Larry Harper, Patrick Murphy jr., Donald Newbury, George Rivas jr., and Michael Garcia, broke out of a maximum-security prison in South Texas, setting off a massive six-week manhunt. Evidence showed the gang led by George Rivas, who had been sentenced to 17 life prison terms, overpowered prison workers as well as civilian employees and prison guards in the maintenance shop where they worked and stole clothing, as well as guns from the prison armory before escaping in a prison truck; the escapees were dubbed the "Texas Seven" by the media. "Rivas was the leader and would do the talking and Newbury was one of the guys standing with the gun and threatening everybody," said Toby Shook, the former Dallas county assistant district attorney who prosecuted both. "Rivas was using him as his muscle."
Two days later, Rivas and Newbury held up a store, taking electronics – including police radio scanners. Following an episode of the television show America's Most Wanted, that first aired on January 20, 2001, several people phoned in possible sightings of the suspects at the Coach light Motel and R.V. Park in Woodland Park, Colorado. They had apparently tried to pass themselves off as missionaries, playing loud Christian music within earshot of their neighbors. The El Paso County Sheriff's Office, Colorado, and Teller County Deputies SWAT team found Garcia, Rodriguez, and Rivas in a Jeep Cherokee in the RV Park, before following them to a nearby gas station where they were arrested, and later found Halprin and Harper in an RV; Halprin surrendered peacefully, but Harper was found dead after a standoff, having shot himself in the chest with a pistol. The surviving four, including Newbury, were taken into federal custody. Donald Newbury was sentenced to death and the punishment was carried out after Newbury lost a last-day appeal to the US supreme court. His attorneys had argued previous lawyers were deficient and courts did not provide adequate money for a defense expert to illustrate how Newbury's abusive childhood may have influenced his violent behavior. He was executed during the evening of Wednesday, February 4, 2015 for the fatal shooting of 29-year-old Aubrey Hawkins, a police officer who interrupted the fugitives' robbery of a sporting goods store on Christmas Eve in 2000. Officer Hawkins was shot 11 times, his bullet-ridden body pulled from his squad car and then run over with a stolen SUV. The fugitives fled with $70,000, 44 firearms, and ammunition, plus jewelry and wallets from store employees who were closing up for the evening.
When asked to make a final statement, Newbury mumbled: "I would. That each new indignity defeats only the body. Pampering the spirit with obscure merit. I love you all. That's it."As the lethal dose of pentobarbital took effect, he closed his eyes, then took a deep breath and began snoring. After about a dozen snores, each a bit quieter, he stopped all movement.
He was pronounced dead 11 minutes later, at 6.25 pm.
About two dozen police officers stood at attention outside the Huntsville prison. Several supporters of the slain officer were on motorcycles outside, and as Newbury was taking his final breaths, the roar of revving engines could be heard inside the death chamber.∼Executed by TDCJ #521 since 1982, the 3rd of 2015.
While on escape from TDCJ in December 2000, Newbury and 6 co-defendants robbed a sporting goods store at gunpoint. Irving Police Officer, Aubrey Wright Hawkins was murdered outside the store as Newbury and co-defendants left the scene.
At the time of the escape, Rodriguez was serving a life sentence for capital murder after hiring a man to kill his wife Theresa for an insurance policy worth $250,000 in 1994.
On December 24, 2000, they held up an Oshman's sports store, stealing 44 guns. Irving Police Officer Aubrey Hawkins responded to the call, arrived on the scene and was almost immediately ambushed; his autopsy would show that he had sustained eleven gunshots and his body had been run over by the fleeing gang.
After Officer Hawkins' murder, a $100,000 reward was offered to whoever could snare the group of criminals. The reward would climb to $500,000 before the group was apprehended.
They were apprehended January 21-23 2001 in Colorado, as a direct result of the television show America's Most Wanted.
*******************************************************
Rodriguez was one of the infamous "Texas Seven,"
The Texas 7 was a group of prisoners who escaped from the John Connally Unit near Kennedy, Texas on December 13, 2000.
The group was composed of the following Texas state prisoners:
Joseph C. Garcia-Sentenced to death on 2/14/2003
Randy Ethan Halprin-Sentenced to death on 6/12/2003
Larry James Harper (deceased by suicide)
Donald Keith Newbury- executed 02/04/2015
Patrick Henry Murphy, Jr.-Sentenced to death on 11/20/2003
George Rivas (Ringleader)-executed 02/29/2012
Michael Anthony Rodriguez- executed 8/14/2008
Two days later, Rivas and Newbury held up a store, taking electronics – including police radio scanners. Following an episode of the television show America's Most Wanted, that first aired on January 20, 2001, several people phoned in possible sightings of the suspects at the Coach light Motel and R.V. Park in Woodland Park, Colorado. They had apparently tried to pass themselves off as missionaries, playing loud Christian music within earshot of their neighbors. The El Paso County Sheriff's Office, Colorado, and Teller County Deputies SWAT team found Garcia, Rodriguez, and Rivas in a Jeep Cherokee in the RV Park, before following them to a nearby gas station where they were arrested, and later found Halprin and Harper in an RV; Halprin surrendered peacefully, but Harper was found dead after a standoff, having shot himself in the chest with a pistol. The surviving four, including Newbury, were taken into federal custody. Donald Newbury was sentenced to death and the punishment was carried out after Newbury lost a last-day appeal to the US supreme court. His attorneys had argued previous lawyers were deficient and courts did not provide adequate money for a defense expert to illustrate how Newbury's abusive childhood may have influenced his violent behavior. He was executed during the evening of Wednesday, February 4, 2015 for the fatal shooting of 29-year-old Aubrey Hawkins, a police officer who interrupted the fugitives' robbery of a sporting goods store on Christmas Eve in 2000. Officer Hawkins was shot 11 times, his bullet-ridden body pulled from his squad car and then run over with a stolen SUV. The fugitives fled with $70,000, 44 firearms, and ammunition, plus jewelry and wallets from store employees who were closing up for the evening.
When asked to make a final statement, Newbury mumbled: "I would. That each new indignity defeats only the body. Pampering the spirit with obscure merit. I love you all. That's it."As the lethal dose of pentobarbital took effect, he closed his eyes, then took a deep breath and began snoring. After about a dozen snores, each a bit quieter, he stopped all movement.
He was pronounced dead 11 minutes later, at 6.25 pm.
About two dozen police officers stood at attention outside the Huntsville prison. Several supporters of the slain officer were on motorcycles outside, and as Newbury was taking his final breaths, the roar of revving engines could be heard inside the death chamber.∼Executed by TDCJ #521 since 1982, the 3rd of 2015.
While on escape from TDCJ in December 2000, Newbury and 6 co-defendants robbed a sporting goods store at gunpoint. Irving Police Officer, Aubrey Wright Hawkins was murdered outside the store as Newbury and co-defendants left the scene.
At the time of the escape, Rodriguez was serving a life sentence for capital murder after hiring a man to kill his wife Theresa for an insurance policy worth $250,000 in 1994.
On December 24, 2000, they held up an Oshman's sports store, stealing 44 guns. Irving Police Officer Aubrey Hawkins responded to the call, arrived on the scene and was almost immediately ambushed; his autopsy would show that he had sustained eleven gunshots and his body had been run over by the fleeing gang.
After Officer Hawkins' murder, a $100,000 reward was offered to whoever could snare the group of criminals. The reward would climb to $500,000 before the group was apprehended.
They were apprehended January 21-23 2001 in Colorado, as a direct result of the television show America's Most Wanted.
*******************************************************
Rodriguez was one of the infamous "Texas Seven,"
The Texas 7 was a group of prisoners who escaped from the John Connally Unit near Kennedy, Texas on December 13, 2000.
The group was composed of the following Texas state prisoners:
Joseph C. Garcia-Sentenced to death on 2/14/2003
Randy Ethan Halprin-Sentenced to death on 6/12/2003
Larry James Harper (deceased by suicide)
Donald Keith Newbury- executed 02/04/2015
Patrick Henry Murphy, Jr.-Sentenced to death on 11/20/2003
George Rivas (Ringleader)-executed 02/29/2012
Michael Anthony Rodriguez- executed 8/14/2008
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