Inmate executed; in last words, he claims part in other killings

[Judi Lynn]

Posted 1/29/2004 11:04 AM Updated 1/29/2004 11:10 AM


Inmate executed; in last words, he claims part in other killings

HUNTSVILLE, Texas (AP) — Time finally ran out for condemned killer Billy Frank Vickers, but as he went to his death he left behind an unexpected disclosure he may have been involved in more than a dozen murder cases, including the Cullen Davis case.

"I would like to clear some things up if I could," Vickers, 58, said strapped to the Texas death chamber gurney Wednesday night in the moments before he received lethal injection for the slaying of a grocery store owner in Lamar County in March 1993.

He acknowledged that fatal shooting during a botched robbery, reversing his previous denials, adding: "There was several more that I had done or had a part of. I am sorry and I am not sure how many — there must be a dozen or 14 I believe all total.

"One I would like to clear up is Cullen Davis, where he was charged with shooting his wife. He didn't do that. And all of these it was never nothing personal. It was just something I did to make a living."
(snip/...)

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2004-01-29-texas-execution_x.htm

[displacedtexan]

1. So... T. Cullen hired it done?

Makes sense to me.

[SidDithers]

2. Kinda hard to get more information from him...

now that he's dead.

Sid

[TheBlob]

3. Perhaps that was his point....

as a parting shot, to weaken the argument for the death penalty even further.

[maggrwaggr]

4. this is one reason I'm against the death penalty

It's very practical. We kill people who have useful information.

For instance we'll never know, now, who Tim McVeigh acted with.

Oh well! At least we've gotten our vengeance!

[sendero]

5. As if....

.. a person who is silent for years would suddenly speak up.

As for the Cullen Davis thing, I guess he is implying he was hired to do that. Since he didn't care to elaborate I'm not sure I buy it.

[Freddie Stubbs]

9. He didn't seem to be very motivated to speak up before

Perhaps the thought of going to meet his maker changed his mind.

[leftchick]

6. Why Do We Kill People, Who Kill People...

To Show that Killing People is Wrong?!?

[sendero]

7. Yep....

.... maybe if he'd gotten the ultimate punishment long ago he would have killed, oh say, only 5 people.

[leftchick]

8. the same could be said if the "ultimate punishment"....

was life in prison rather than death.

[Muddleoftheroad]

10. Exactly

I mean, there's nobody in prison he could kill...