HOUSTON (AP) - The U.S. Supreme Court has refused an appeal from a 38-year-old man on Texas death row for the fatal stabbing and robbery of an 85-year-old Rio Grande Valley woman.
The high court on Monday, without comment, declined to review the case of Ruben Gutierrez.
Gutierrez was 21 in 1998 when he was arrested for the slaying of Escolastica Harrison and robbery of $56,000 from her Brownsville home.
Evidence showed the woman, who managed and owned a mobile home park from her home, had been beaten severely and likely was fatally stabbed with two screwdrivers.
Court documents show Gutierrez acknowledged planning the robbery but blamed the slaying on a companion. Much of the money was recovered.
Gutierrez does not yet have an execution date.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.