Texas: Tracy Beatty wins stay of execution

Tracy Beatty

(TYLER MORNING TELEGRAPH) - A Smith County man who killed his 62-year-old mother, buried her in the backyard and used her credit cards and drained her bank accounts was set to be executed Thursday, but received a stay of execution Tuesday afternoon.

Tracy Beatty, 54, was convicted of kiling his mother Carolyn Ruth Clark in December 2003.

Evidence showed Beatty drained his mother's bank accounts, stole her car and used the money to buy drugs after he buried her body in the back yard.

"He had been to the penitentiary and was out at one point in time, then he brutally assaulted her, his parole was revoked, and he was sent back to the penitentiary," Smith County Sheriff's Major Mike Lusk said at the time. "We have some indication that was part of his motive."

On Tuesday the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals granted the stay.

There was no indication as to why the court granted the stay.

Source: CBS19TV, August 11, 2015

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