• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Death row inmate sends apologetic message to victim's family in final words before execution

Home> News

Published 11:34 6 Oct 2022 GMT+1

Death row inmate sends apologetic message to victim's family in final words before execution

John Henry Ramirez said that he fought a 'good fight'.

Emma Guinness

Emma Guinness

A death row inmate has used his last words to apologise to the family of the man he murdered almost two decades ago.

John Henry Ramirez, 38, was executed via lethal injection on 5 October at the Huntsville state penitentiary, Texas, for murdering Pablo Castro, 46, in a 2004 robbery and stabbing that saw him steal just $1.25 (£1.11).

Despite being sentenced to death back in 2009, Ramirez' execution was repeatedly delayed after he launched an appeal to have a priest present and praying at his execution.

Advert

His wish was ultimately granted by the Supreme Court, who ruled that denying the killer a priest would be a violation of his rights under the First Amendment.

Ramirez received the death penalty for a crime he committed back in 2004.
PA / Texas Department of Criminal Justice

Ramirez therefore had spiritual adviser, Dana Moore, present at his execution, who Newsweek reports held a hand over his chest and prayed.

Moore said: "Look upon John with your grace. Grant him peace. Grant all of us peace."

Advert

At the end of the prayer, the inmate said: '"Amen."

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice revealed that the killer issued a statement to his victim's family as part of his last words before he was executed.

"I just want to say to the family of Pablo Castro, I appreciate everything that y'all did to try and communicate with me through the Victim's Advocacy program," he said.

"I tried to reply back, but there is nothing that I could have said or done that would have helped you.

Advert

"I have regret and remorse. This is such a heinous act. I hope this finds you comfort. If this helps you, then I am glad. I hope in some shape or form this helps you find closure."

The killer died via lethal injection in Huntsville, Texas.
PA / Chuck Berman / Zuma Press

Ramirez also took the opportunity to let his family know how much he loved them and explain that he was ready to die after a 'good fight'.

"To my wife, my friends, my son, grasshopper, Dana and homies, I love y'all," he said. "Just know that I fought a good fight, and I am ready to go. I am ready Warden."

Advert

He was administered with a lethal dose of pentobarbital and he was pronounced dead 14 minutes later.

Seth Kretzer, the killer's attorney, told Newsweek: "Mr. Ramirez's religious liberties case in the Supreme Court touched some small part of America's soul.

"The most conservative regional Court of Appeals in America was reversed 8-1 by the most conservative Supreme Court in American history.

"While perhaps D.A. Gonzalez should have more quickly informed his staff as to his position that capital punishment is unethical, a new day is dawning in America where elected district attorneys can stand up to execution errors extrapolated from a prior generation."

Advert

If you have a story you want to tell, send it to UNILAD via [email protected] 

Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock/Dennis Brack / Alamy Stock Photo

Topics: US News

Emma Guinness
Emma Guinness

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

16 mins ago
2 hours ago
12 hours ago
13 hours ago
  • 16 mins ago

    Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly finally announce unique name of their baby daughter and fans are pointing out incredible detail

    Fans have been calling this a 'full circle moment'

    Celebrity
  • 2 hours ago

    Trump slammed for 'deranged' threat to Iran 'leader' as he issues urgent warning amid Israel attacks

    Donald Trump has been causing a stir over his latest comments on Iran

    News
  • 12 hours ago

    Experts reveal why millennials are abandoning organized religion and what they're doing instead

    Americans are becoming increasingly disassociated with traditional religion, according to a new study's in-depth analysis of millennials

    News
  • 13 hours ago

    Underrated Jennifer Lawrence movie that fans say is 'the best they've ever seen' is leaving Prime very soon

    The movie saw Jennifer Lawrence get her first Oscar nomination

    Film & TV
  • Death row inmate used final words to share message to victim's family before being executed by lethal injection
  • Death row prisoner's haunting last words were to victim's family before his execution
  • Death row inmate used final words to share message to surviving victims
  • Man on death row's chilling final words to victim's family revealed before execution by lethal injection