Texas: Dexter Darnell Johnson to die on August 15; Larry Ray Swearingen on August 21

Dexter Darnell Johnson's execution is scheduled to occur at 6 pm CDT, on Thursday, August 15, 2019, at the Walls Unit of the Huntsville State Penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas.

31-year-old Dexter is convicted of the murder of 23-year-old Maria Aparece and 17-year-old Huy Ngo on June 18, 2006, in Houston, Texas.

Dexter has spent the last 11 years of his life on Texas’ death row.

Dexter was born and raised in Texas. He dropped out of school following the 9th grade.

During the early morning hours of June 18, 2006, Dexter Johnson and 4 of his friends, Ashley Ervin, Louis Ervin, Keithron Fields, and Timothy Randle, were driving around in Ashley’s car, looking for someone to rob. The group discovered Maria Aparece and Huy Ngo siting in Maria’s vehicle on the street.

Johnson took a shot gun and stood outside the driver’s side door, threatening to shoot Maria if she did not cooperate. Johnson demanded she open the door, and when she did, he threw her into the back seat and sat in the driver’s seat.

Fields, who was outside the passenger side door, threw Huy into the back seat with Maria, and sat in the front seat on the passenger side. Louis sat in the back. Ashley and Randle followed in Ashely’s car.

Johnson demanded money from Maria and Huy. Eventually, Johnson pulled over into a wooded area and forced Huy from the car.

Johnson then raped Maria, while Fields forced Huy to listen and taunted him. Maria and Huy were then marched into the woods, by Johnson and Fields, where they were shot and killed.

Over the next several days, Johnson used Maria’s credit card several times.

On June 21, 2006, Johnson was arrested for possession of marijuana. He was quickly linked by police to the disappearance of Maria and Huy. Police were able to obtain security footage from a Wal-Mart, where Maria’s credit card was used after she went missing.

During his trial, testimony was presented that showed Johnson was the leader of a gang. Johnson is also believed to be connected to several other murders. Following his sentencing, Johnson threw a chair in courtroom, resulting in him being forcibly restrained and escorted out of the courtroom by several sheriff’s deputies.

Ashley Ervin is currently serving a prison sentence and is eligible for parole in 2046. Keithron Fields has been sentenced to life in prison, without the possibility of parole. Timothy Randle is currently serving a 25 years in prison. Louis Ervin was a juvenile at the time of the crime.

Dexter Johnson was previously scheduled to be executed on Thursday, May 2, 2019. That execution was stayed by a Federal court. Dexter wrote to the federal court shortly after being given his May 2, execution date, complaining about his attorney, who has been on his case for years.

The court appointed a 2nd legal team to investigate the claims, while allowing the 1st attorney to remain on the case. The 2nd legal team has now claimed that the 1st attorney “violated ethical and professional duties throughout his representation.” Based on these concerns, the federal court halted Dexter's execution. Dexter's 1st attorney has since voluntarily removed himself from the case.

Larry Ray Swearingen is scheduled to be executed on August 21

Larry Ray Swearingen is scheduled to be executed at 6 pm CST, on Wednesday, August 21, 2019, at the Walls Unit of the Huntsville State Penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas.

48-year-old Larry is convicted of the kidnapping and murder of 19-year-old Melissa Trotter on December 8, 1998, in Montgomery County, Texas. Larry has spent the last 19 years of his life on Texas’ death row.

Larry was born in Montgomery County, Texas on May 21, 1971. He attended school through the 11th grade. Larry worked as an electrician/mechanic until his arrest. Larry had 1 prior conviction for burglary of a building, for which he received probation. After his arrest for murder, the probation was revoked and he was given a 2-year sentence.

Melissa Trotter was a student at Montgomery College in Conroe, Texas. She met Swearingen in the beginning of December 1998. On December 8, 1998, Melissa and Swearingen were observed together in the library. They were seen leaving the campus together by her biology professor, who later identified the man with Melissa as Swearingen.

After leaving campus that day, Melissa was never seen or heard from again. On January 2, 1999, her partially nude body was found by two hunters in the Sam Houston National Forest.

On December 11, 1998, prior to Melissa’s body being discovered, Swearingen was arrested for unrelated outstanding warrants.

After Melissa’s body was discovered, he quickly became the police’s prime suspect. Police searched the trailer in which Swearingen lived with his wife. Inside, police discovered a pack of cigarettes, the same brand that Melissa smoked, and a lighter that was similar to the one Melissa had used.

Neither Swearingen nor his wife smoked.

Melissa had been strangled using a small piece of hosiery, which had been cut from a pair of nylons. Police did not find a pair nylons when searching the trailer, however, Swearingen’s landlord found the missing hosiery in a bag of trash while he was cleaning the trailer in preparation for new tenants.

The found hosiery’s cut marks, matched the cut piece of hosiery used to kill Melissa.

Swearingen has maintained his innocence since being arrested for murder, alleging he was in jail at the time of her death.

Police searched Sam Houston National Forest several times, never finding Melissa’s body.

Swearingen maintains that Melissa’s body must have been placed there after police searched the area and while he was in jail.

Larry Swearingen has received numerous previous execution dates.

Many of the execution dates were stayed to allow further DNA testing. Additional testing has revealed no new information for the case.

Source: theforgivenessfoundation.org, Staff, July 21, 2019

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