In a bold escape, Joseph Garcia, Randy Halprin, Larry James Harper, Patrick Murphy Jr, Donald Newbury, George Rivas, and Michael Anthony Rodriguez left a chilling note declaring, “You haven’t heard the last of us yet.” With this ominous message, they signaled their intention to continue their defiance.
Their escape plan was well-coordinated, as they swiftly switched to another getaway vehicle, thanks to the assistance of one escapee’s father. The group, all serving lengthy sentences for grave offenses such as murder, sexual assault, and child abuse, demonstrated a dangerous resolve.
After breaking free, the fugitives embarked on a crime spree that tragically culminated in the murder of a police officer. This spree began the day following their escape, with a brazen robbery at an electronics store.
On Christmas Eve of that same year, their criminal activities escalated further when they raided a sporting goods store, seizing a significant haul of cash and firearms. The audacity and coordination of these actions underscored the threat they posed while on the run.
The day after their escape they robbed an electronics store.
And on Christmas Eve that year they stole large amounts of cash and guns from a sporting goods store.
In their getaway they shot and ran over police officer Aubrey Hawkins, killing him.
They then spent the next month hiding out at a trailer park in Colorado, telling people they were a group of Christian missionaries.
But the Texas Seven were brought undone by an episode of America’s Most Wanted.
Someone recognised the group from the show and tipped off the police.
Four of the seven were arrested on January 22, 2001, and a fifth committed suicide.
Two others were arrested two days later after a standoff at a Colorado hotel.
The surviving six were put on trial for the murder of Aubrey Hawkins and all were sentenced to death.
Four have since been executed between 2008 and 2018.
The executions of the last two have been delayed. The first is because of a religious discrimination lawsuit after he was denied a Buddhist chaplain.
The final man has been granted a retrial after it was revealed the judge had levelled a series of anti-semitic slurs about him.
He will face retrial in 2027.
