Killer, Rapist Of 93-Year-Old Executed

William Murray Raped And Killed Elderly Woman During $10 Robbery

(AP)  A man who raped and murdered a 93-year-old woman in her Dallas-area home was executed Wednesday after he apologized to his victim's relatives.

"I'm sorry for what I did," William Murray told two nephews of Rena Ratcliff who watched him through a window in the death chamber. "I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me. The Lord has forgiven me."

Murray then looked through an adjacent window where his mother and two brothers were among the witnesses and said: "I'll be there waiting for y'all, all right? God bless."

Eight minutes later at 6:20 p.m., he was pronounced dead.

Murray, a former auto mechanic and laborer from Kaufman, was the ninth prisoner put to death this year in the most active death-penalty state in the U.S.

Murray's lawyer said appeals were exhausted. The U.S. Supreme Court refused to review the case earlier this year. In addition, a clemency bid to the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles was turned down this week.

"Yes, I did do this," Murray told The Associated Press in a recent interview. "I'm not trying to blame this on somebody else. I want people to know I'm sorry for the crime. I pray to the Lord to forgive me and I'm asking them to forgive me. That's all I can do."

Murray, seen left, blamed drug problems for committing at least a dozen burglaries, including the one in February 1998 where Ratcliff was awakened while he rummaged through her bedroom. The widow hit him with her cane or walker, surprising him, and he said after that he "went crazy."

"I didn't know she was in there," he said. "I messed up. Somebody hit me from behind and I went off.

"I did what I did."

He took about $10 in change from a jar and a knife he later traded for drugs.

Power outages in the Huntsville area because of Hurricane Ike had no effect on the lethal injection. Officials said the procedures were not dependent on electricity although the Huntsville Unit of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, where executions are carried out, had normal electric service.

[connive]

dream on, your deeds follow you, no getting out of this one.

[gmond]

So, he was allowed to announce to the survivors that God forgave him. If he was serving a life sentence, he would still be suffering for what he did and wouldn''t have been allowed to inflict any further abuse.

[downsteamjim]

If she had been an Israeli Jew and he a muslim. There would be many posts here saying he was justified.

[mjm117]

that is more than a lot do,most rub it in or say nothing.


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Posted by swwils at 04:51 PM : Sep 18, 2008


Because you''ve experienced a lot of criminals be put to death?

[mjm117]

if he asked for forgiveness and accepted the lord into his heart, won''t he be sitting in heaven?

There is my BIGGEST issue with religion

This guy, deserved to die.

[avigil2]

The devil will be waiting for him in H-E-L-L!

[swwils]

These guys always find a way to God while facing death,I really don''t think that will get this dude into heaven,but he did at least apologize too the family,that is more than a lot do,most rub it in or say nothing.

[bks59]

So then, does the Executioner become a murder?

[heuristic1]

Yea.....you''''ll be waiting in that special place that God reserves for people who rape and kill 93-year-old women. LOL - shanev137
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shanev137 = human garbage

[heuristic1]

um....nope....sor
ry.....he didn''''t.
bye-bye. - shanev137
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shanev137 = human garbage

[shanev137]

Murray then looked through an adjacent window where his mother and two brothers were among the witnesses and said: "I''ll be there waiting for y''all, all right? God bless."


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Yea.....you''ll be waiting in that special place that God reserves for people who rape and kill 93-year-old women. LOL

[displeased]

This guy was the same as an intoxicated person that kills by vehicle. Both killed because they were under the influence of drugs.
Posted by cbsfan731

You consider drinking and driving the same as rape and murder? Lets see...you have one person have some drinks, drive, and kill somebody. Then you have another person have some drinks then rape and murder a person. The person who rapes and murders definitely has some additional underlying problems other than an addiction to a few drinks. The person who commits manslaughter for drinking and driving will get at least 20 years, maybe more. The punishment fits the crime.

[shanev137]

"I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me. The Lord has forgiven me"


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um....nope....sorry.....he didn''t.

bye-bye.

[heuristic1]

Works for me! If you kill somebody, even through your own stupidity why shouldn''''t you blah blah blah - timetrips 1
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Another maggot pretending to be human

[timetrips1]

New driver''''s license requirement:

Before being issued a driver''''s license, you will be required to sign a paper stating that if you kill someone while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you will be executed.


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Posted by cbsfan731 at 12:49 PM : Sep 18, 2008

Works for me! If you kill somebody, even through your own stupidity why shouldn''t you pay with your life? You cost somebody else their life. Grow up and be responsible for your actions!!!!!

[heuristic1]

HURRAY!
. . . NEXT!!! - TheVicar
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Next? Why, it%u2019s TheVicar!

[heuristic1]

You bleeding hearts need to realize there are evil people in this world! jodyrae4
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Ever stop to think that one of them might be you?

[welshwoman-2009]

Taking drugs is a choice. Once you make that decision I firmly feel you need to be held accountable. I don''t like the death penalty either but we are wasting a huge amount of money on people who are hopelessly mental ill who would be better off it euthanized because they are not curable and don''t want help.

[republic1776]

brdlikblssss,
Why are yo always writing crapola like this.
Is this a code you are sending to a terrorist organization?

[tomanyt]

Drugs can and will make you do all sorts of things for the next fix. Unless you have walked in this mans shoes, don''t me so judgmental.