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Texas executes sixth death row inmate of year

By Danielle Haynes
Juan Castillo maintained his innocence of the 2003 murder until his execution Wednesday. File Photo courtesy of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Juan Castillo maintained his innocence of the 2003 murder until his execution Wednesday. File Photo courtesy of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice

May 16 (UPI) -- Texas on Wednesday executed a man for robbing and killing an aspiring rapper the murderer's girlfriend lured to a make-out spot.

Juan Castillo, 37, maintained his innocence in the death of Tommy Garcia, Jr. His execution was postponed three times.

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Castillo's then-girlfriend, Debra Espinosa, and two others lured Garcia to a secluded make-out spot in San Antonio with the promise of sex and drugs. Espinosa had previously dated Garcia.

Garcia attempted to run and Castillo shot him, the accomplices told police. Castillo was convicted and sentenced to death in 2005.

"To everyone that has been there for me you know who you are," he said. "Love ya'll. See y'all on the other side. That's it," said as the lethal injection process began.

His final words were in reaction to the drugs after they were administered.

"I can taste this [expletive," he said. "[Expletive] does burn."

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice pronounced Castillo dead at 6:44 p.m. It was the sixth execution in Texas this year.

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