Steven Nelson repeatedly told his wife that he loved her shortly before he was executed and said he was thankful and grateful, the Associated Press reported.
Why It Matters
Nelson, 37, is the second death row inmate to be executed in the U.S. this year. The death penalty is a legal form of punishment in 27 states.
A poll taken by Gallup in October of last year found that 53 percent of Americans favor the death penalty, but the number varies across generations. Less than half of millennial and Gen Z adults support the punishment.
What To Know
Nelson was killed at 6:50 p.m. CST in the Huntsville Unit.
What were Steven Nelson’s last words?
“It is what it is,” Nelson said before he was executed, according to the AP. He also told his wife that she should “enjoy life.”
“I’m not scared. I’m at peace,” he said. “Let’s ride, Warden.”
In this Dec. 5, 2012, photo, Texas death row inmate Steven Lawayne Nelson poses for a photo in a visiting cage at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Polunsky Unit outside Livingston, Texas. In this Dec. 5, 2012, photo, Texas death row inmate Steven Lawayne Nelson poses for a photo in a visiting cage at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Polunsky Unit outside Livingston, Texas. AP Photo/Michael Graczyk
Who was Steven Nelson?
Nelson was the first inmate to be executed in Texas this year.
He was found guilty of capital murder and attempted capital murder in 2012. He continued to maintain his innocence prior to his execution.
What did Steven Nelson do?
Nelson was accused of killing 28-year-old pastor Clinton “Clint” Dobson in 2011. Nelson entered NorthPointe Baptist Church in Arlington and allegedly attacked Dobson and 69-year-old secretary Judy Elliott. Nelson was on probation for the assault of his girlfriend at the time.
Dobson was strangled with a computer extension cord and smothered with a plastic bag. Police pronounced him dead at the scene. The autopsy found that his cause of death was strangulation.
Elliott suffered internal bleeding in her brain and injuries to her face, head, arms, legs and back. She survived the attack.
Dobson’s laptop, a cellphone, Elliot’s credit cards and Elliot’s car were stolen following the attack.
Nelson failed to report to his probation officer on the day of the murder. Police recovered belongings from Dobson and Elliott that were in Nelson’s possession. DNA from bloodstains found on Nelson’s shoes matched the two victims. Fingerprints found at the crime scene also matched Nelson.
Nelson alleged that he acted as a lookout while two of his friends killed Dobson. He said his trial lawyers failed to sufficiently rebut his friends’ alibis.
Who is Helene Noa Dubois?
Nelson married Helene Noa Dubois in early December 2024. The two had been dating for five years.
Dubois, an immigrant from France, met Nelson through a prison letter-writing program.
What People Are Saying
Nelson, in an interview before his execution: “People do deserve second chances. I’m not the monster that they say I am.”
Tarrant County District Attorney Phil Sorrells, in a statement to USA Today: “Nelson’s conviction was based on overwhelming physical and circumstantial evidence connecting him to the crime.”
What Happens Next
The next death row inmate scheduled to be executed is Demetrius Frazier. His execution is set for Thursday in Alabama.
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