Man who raped and murdered a woman in 2001 executed by lethal injection

The state of Texas has executed a man Wednesday, who was convicted of Rape and murder of a woman in 2001.

Five years later, in 2006, Ramiro Gonzales was convicted and sentenced to death for the rape and murder of Bridget Townsend when both were 18.

Gonzales, 41, was pronounced dead on 18:50 local timeHe was executed by Lethal injectionHowever, he was allowed to Final statement in which, as AFP reports, apologized to the relatives of Bridget Townsend:

“To the Townsend family: I am sorry I cannot speak. I cannot express in words the pain I have caused you all, the damage I have taken from you that I cannot give back.”Closing words by Ramiro Gonzales

In January 2001, Gonzales kidnapped, raped and shot Townsend. his drug dealer’s girlfriend.

The case remained unsolved for 18 months until Gonzales confessed to the crime while in custody for another rape case. He also told authorities where Townsend’s remains could be found.

Gonzales’ lawyer had requested a stay of his execution before the US Supreme Court, but this was rejected on Wednesday.

Gonzales is the second execution in Texas in 2024 And the eighth in the United Statesa country in which 24 convicts were sentenced to death in 2023all by lethal injection.

A total of 23 of the country’s 50 states have abolished the death penalty. while the governors of six other states – Arizona, California, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Tennessee – have suspended the law.