Texas Death Row 2025 Begins With First Execution, Three More Planned

The death penalty is still very legal in Texas, and currently, 173 people remain on death row.  Some are awaiting their execution date while others wait on their appeals.

On February 5, 2025, Texas executed its 1,343rd person, marking the first execution of 2025, Steven Lawayne Nelson.

Why Was Steven Lawayne Nelson executed?

On March 3, 2011, Nelson walked into NorthPointe Baptist Church in Arlington with the intent of committing robbery.   Two people were working in the church at the time, 28-year-old Rev. Clint Dobson and 67-year-old Judy Elliot.  During the robbery, Nelson killed Dobson and severely beat Elliot.  Dobson was pronounced dead at the scene.

Nelson was sentenced to death on October 16, 2012.  On February 5, 2025, Nelson was put to death by lethal injection, he died at 6:50 pm.   His last words were,

“I will always love you no matter, that our love is uncontrollable there is no definition and no felling. I’m thankful and grateful. It is what it is. Always live for me and enjoy life. Give Monkey a hug for me. Know I am not scared, it’s cold shit in here. But I’m at peace, I’m ready to be at home. Let’s ride Warden.”

Get our free mobile app

How Many Executions are Planned in Texas in 2025?

Nelson was the first execution of 2025, but according to the TDCJ, 3 more executions are scheduled.

What Inmates are Scheduled to Be Executed in Texas in 2025?

Richard Tabler went on a killing spree in 2004 but was convicted on two charges of Capital Murder for the deaths of Mohamed-Amine Rahmouni and Haitham Frank Zayed.  He is scheduled to be executed on February 13, 2025.

David Wood, known as the El Paso Desert Killer, was convicted of killing girls and dumping their bodies in the Northeast Dessert.  Wood has spent decades appealing his conviction.   He is scheduled to be executed on March 13, 2025.  3/13/2025

Moises Mendoza was convicted of killing a 20-year-old woman, keeping her body for several days before taking it to a dirt pit, setting the body on fire then burying the remains under a brush pile.  He is scheduled for execution on April 23, 2025.