Texas Executes Man for Brutal Murder of Infant Son
In a somber scene at the state penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas, Travis Mullis, 38, was executed by lethal injection on Tuesday evening for the horrific murder of his 3-month-old son, Alijah, more than 16 years ago. Mullis, who had waived his right to appeal his death sentence, became the fourth inmate to be put to death in Texas this year.
On that fateful day in January 2008, Mullis, then 21, drove to Galveston with his infant son after an argument with his girlfriend. In a shocking act of violence, he sexually assaulted the child before brutally stomping on his head, leaving the tiny body on the roadside.
The final moments
As Mullis lay strapped to the death chamber gurney, he offered his final words, expressing gratitude and remorse:
“I’d like to thank everyone … that accepted me for the man I became during my best and worst moments,” Mullis said after a brief prayer from his spiritual adviser.
He continued, acknowledging the changes in the prison system: “I’d like to thank prison officials and staff for changes made across the system that allowed even the men on death row to show it is possible to be rehabilitated and not deemed a threat and not the men we were when we came into this system.”
In a surprising twist, Mullis revealed that he had taken legal steps to expedite his execution, stating:
“While I took the legal steps to expedite to include assisted suicide, I don’t regret this decision, to legally expedite this process. … I do regret the decision to take the life of my son.”
He also apologized to his son’s mother and her family, emphasizing that he held no ill will towards anyone involved in his punishment.
The execution faced a brief 20-minute delay as technicians struggled to find a suitable vein. Eventually, one needle was inserted into his right arm, while a second was placed in his left foot. Mullis was pronounced dead at 7:01 p.m. CDT, 20 minutes after the lethal dose of pentobarbital began to take effect.
A week of executions
Mullis’ execution is part of a series of five scheduled within a week across the United States. This marks a significant event in recent history, as it will be the first time in over 20 years that five executions have been carried out in such a short period.
Legal context and controversy
The case of Travis Mullis raises questions about capital punishment for individuals with mental health issues. While the U.S. Supreme Court has prohibited the death penalty for the intellectually disabled, it has not extended this protection to those with serious mental illness.
Shawn Nolan, one of Mullis’ attorneys, argued that Texas was executing a “redeemed man” who had always accepted responsibility for his crime. This sentiment was echoed in Mullis’ own words during his final statement:
“It was my decision that put me here,” he said, closing the final chapter on a tragic story that has spanned more than a decade and a half.