Execution of Texas Inmate Matthew Lee Johnson
In a significant case, Matthew Lee Johnson, 49, was executed by lethal injection on Tuesday, May 20, at the state penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas. He was pronounced dead at 6:53 PM CDT.
Johnson’s execution comes exactly 13 years after he committed a horrific crime in which he set a great-grandmother, Nancy Harris, on fire during a convenience store robbery. Before his execution, Johnson addressed the relatives of Harris, who was 76 years old at the time of the incident. He expressed deep remorse, asking for their forgiveness, saying, “I never meant to hurt her.” He also prayed that Harris would be the first person he sees in the afterlife.
During the 2012 robbery in Garland, Johnson attacked Harris while she was working. After dousing her with lighter fluid, he stole cash, her rings, cigarettes, and a lighter before igniting the fire. After fleeing the scene, he also took some candy bars.
Despite Harris’s attempts to save herself by seeking help outside, she later succumbed to her injuries after spending five days in the hospital with severe burns.
At his trial in 2013, Johnson testified that he was under the influence of crack cocaine at the time of the crime. He admitted his actions, stating, “I hurt an innocent woman. I took a human being’s life.” Johnson was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death for his actions.
