HUNTSVILLE, Texas – Edward Busby Jr. was executed on a Thursday evening, marking a significant milestone as the 600th person put to death in Texas since the state resumed the death penalty in 1982. This event has reignited discussions about the death penalty, especially concerning cases involving individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Busby, who had been described by both prosecutors and defense attorneys as intellectually disabled, was pronounced dead at 8:11 p.m. following a lethal injection at the state penitentiary in Huntsville. His execution was carried out after the U.S. Supreme Court lifted a stay on his execution, which had been based on his claims of having an intellectual disability. This decision followed a series of last-minute legal efforts by his attorneys to spare his life.
He was convicted for the tragic killing of Laura Lee Crane, a retired professor from Texas Christian University. In January 2004, prosecutors stated that Crane was abducted from a grocery store parking lot and suffocated in the trunk of her car, with duct tape wrapped around her face, covering her mouth and nose.
This execution was notable not only as the 600th in Texas but also as the fourth execution in the state for the year and the twelfth nationwide. Earlier on the same day, Oklahoma executed another man, Raymond Johnson, for a double murder committed nearly 20 years ago.
Before the execution, Busby expressed deep regret. When given the chance to make a final statement, he repeatedly apologized and asked for forgiveness. “I am so sorry for what happened,” he said, referring to Crane as a “lovely woman” and expressing a wish that he could “take it all back.” He acknowledged that he had “no right to get in that car” and offered to take the blame, saying, “I’ll take the blame if that helps.”
Busby dedicated his final moments to spiritual reflection, urging his sister, who was watching from a distance, to find a church and “pick up your cross.” He stated, “I’m here because this is the will of God” just before the injection began.
As the lethal dose of pentobarbital was administered, he took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and gradually lost consciousness, being pronounced dead 38 minutes later.
Busby’s execution was initially in doubt due to a stay issued by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which was overruled by the U.S. Supreme Court at the request of the Texas Attorney General’s Office. They argued that previous appeals based on similar claims had been rejected as “meritless” and supported by “conflicting evidence.” Busby’s lawyers quickly sought another stay, but a lower court denied it.
In 2002, the Supreme Court ruled that executing intellectually disabled individuals is unconstitutional. However, it allows states to determine how they assess such disabilities. In Busby’s case, both a defense expert and one from the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office concluded that he was intellectually disabled. Despite this, the district attorney’s office maintained that he was not disabled under current law, leading to the request for the execution date.
Busby was arrested after he was found driving Crane’s car in Oklahoma City, where he eventually led authorities to her body near the Texas border. His co-defendant, Kathleen Latimer, is currently serving a life sentence for her role in the crime.
Speaking on behalf of Crane’s family, Bryan Mark Rigg acknowledged their complex feelings regarding the death penalty. While they neither support nor oppose it, they emphasized their respect for the rule of law. Rigg, who was a student of Crane’s, highlighted her legacy of helping children with learning disabilities, stating that she was “discarded in a field like a piece of trash.” He emphasized that the execution was about accountability and honoring Crane’s life as an extraordinary educator.
As the conversation around the death penalty continues, Busby’s case raises important questions about justice, mental health, and the legal system’s ability to protect vulnerable individuals.
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Lozano reported from Houston. Follow Juan A. Lozano: https://x.com/juanlozano70
