HUNTSVILLE, Texas, Aug. 15 (UPI) -- A member of the so-called "Texas Seven," a group of convicts who escaped for more than a month in 2000, was executed by Texas Thursday evening.
Michael Rodriguez, 45, was among the convicts who while free killed Aubrey Hawkins, an Irving, Texas, police officer. Rodriguez was already serving a life sentence at the time of the escape for paying a hit man $2,000 to kill his wife in 1992.
Officials said all those connected to the "Texas Seven" were sentenced to death for their parts in the death of Hawkins. The Dallas Morning News said Rodriguez was the first to be executed.
The seven convicts made their escape by overpowering and binding nine civilian maintenance supervisors, four correctional officers and three uninvolved inmates in an electrical room on Jan. 13, 2000.
Disguised in stolen civilian clothing with stolen identification and stolen guns, they drove off in a maintenance truck.
They were caught in Colorado about a month later. One of the group committed suicide as authorities approached.
KXAS-TV, Dallas, said Rodriguez had dropped all appeals and requested a large last meal of fried chicken and grilled pork steak, as well as a bacon cheeseburger, french fries and a salad.
