CT Wolf
11-17-2008, 10:57 PM
http://www.off2dr.com/images/cathey.jpg
AUSTIN – Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott offers the following information about Eric Dewayne Cathey, who is scheduled to be executed after 6 p.m. on Tuesday, November 18, 2008.
Cathey was sentenced to death for the 1995 kidnapping and murder of Christina Castillo in Houston.
FACTS OF THE CRIME
20-year-old Christina Castillo, of Houston, disappeared on September 12, 1995. Twelve days later, her body was found in a desolate area of Houston by a family searching for aluminum cans. Her eyes had been covered, and her wrists and feet were bound with duct tape.
An autopsy determined that Christina had been shot three times in the head. Three cartridge cases were recovered at the scene.
In January 1996, Houston police detectives got a break in the unsolved murder when a Texas Ranger informed them that James DeLeon had confessed that he and five other men — Sonny Baker, Lionel Bonner, Anthony Riley, Patrick Brooks, and Eric Cathey — had planned to rob Castillo and her boyfriend, Hector Alicia, believing that the couple had drugs and money. DeLeon stated that Cathey had murdered Castillo. Bonner also provided the police with a statement.
At trial, Bonner testified that the six conspirators met at Baker’s house where they made plans to rob a Hispanic couple who were Brooks’ neighbors and who the men believed had drugs and money in their apartment. Cathey was armed with a gun; he was apparently the only one armed.
The conspirators kidnapped Castillo in the parking lot of her apartment complex and took her to another location where they asked her about the drugs and money. The men beat and kicked her after she denied any knowledge of drugs and money.
The men then took Castillo to a desolate location. As Riley, Bonner, and DeLeon began to drive away from the location, Riley told Brooks to leave Castillo there. As they drove away Bonner heard several gunshots. Later that night Cathey told Bonner that he had shot Castillo.
PROCEDURAL HISTORY
January 19, 1996 -- Cathey was indicted for the capital murder of Christina Castillo.
March 12, 1997 -- A jury found Cathey guilty of Castillo's murder.
March 14, 1997 -- Cathey was sentenced to death.
March 20, 1997 -- Cathey filed a notice of appeal.
April 21, 1999 -- Cathey's conviction was affirmed by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.
September 16, 1999 -- Cathey filed a petition for certiorari review in the U.S. Supreme Court.
January 10, 2000 -- Cathey’s petition for certiorari was denied by the Supreme Court.
March 15, 1999 -- Cathey filed a state application for writ of habeas corpus.
April 2, 2003 -- The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals denied Cathey’s application for writ of habeas corpus.
April 2, 2004 -- Cathey filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus in federal district court.
December 23, 2004 -- The district court denied Cathey relief and denies a certificate of appealability (“COA”).
January 21, 2005 -- Cathey filed a notice of appeal.
May 5, 2005 -- Cathey filed an application for COA with the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
April 7, 2006 The Fifth Circuit Court denied Cathey’s COA application.
PRIOR CRIMINAL HISTORY
It was shown at trial that Cathey had pleaded guilty to the offenses of driving with a suspended license in 1991 and in 1993, unlawful firearm possession in 1992, reckless conduct in 1993, facilitation of driving with a suspended license in 1995, and evading arrest or detention in 1995. Additional testimony revealed that Cathey committed several bad acts for which he was not prosecuted.
Link here (http://www.oag.state.tx.us/oagNews/release.php?id=2731)
AUSTIN – Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott offers the following information about Eric Dewayne Cathey, who is scheduled to be executed after 6 p.m. on Tuesday, November 18, 2008.
Cathey was sentenced to death for the 1995 kidnapping and murder of Christina Castillo in Houston.
FACTS OF THE CRIME
20-year-old Christina Castillo, of Houston, disappeared on September 12, 1995. Twelve days later, her body was found in a desolate area of Houston by a family searching for aluminum cans. Her eyes had been covered, and her wrists and feet were bound with duct tape.
An autopsy determined that Christina had been shot three times in the head. Three cartridge cases were recovered at the scene.
In January 1996, Houston police detectives got a break in the unsolved murder when a Texas Ranger informed them that James DeLeon had confessed that he and five other men — Sonny Baker, Lionel Bonner, Anthony Riley, Patrick Brooks, and Eric Cathey — had planned to rob Castillo and her boyfriend, Hector Alicia, believing that the couple had drugs and money. DeLeon stated that Cathey had murdered Castillo. Bonner also provided the police with a statement.
At trial, Bonner testified that the six conspirators met at Baker’s house where they made plans to rob a Hispanic couple who were Brooks’ neighbors and who the men believed had drugs and money in their apartment. Cathey was armed with a gun; he was apparently the only one armed.
The conspirators kidnapped Castillo in the parking lot of her apartment complex and took her to another location where they asked her about the drugs and money. The men beat and kicked her after she denied any knowledge of drugs and money.
The men then took Castillo to a desolate location. As Riley, Bonner, and DeLeon began to drive away from the location, Riley told Brooks to leave Castillo there. As they drove away Bonner heard several gunshots. Later that night Cathey told Bonner that he had shot Castillo.
PROCEDURAL HISTORY
January 19, 1996 -- Cathey was indicted for the capital murder of Christina Castillo.
March 12, 1997 -- A jury found Cathey guilty of Castillo's murder.
March 14, 1997 -- Cathey was sentenced to death.
March 20, 1997 -- Cathey filed a notice of appeal.
April 21, 1999 -- Cathey's conviction was affirmed by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.
September 16, 1999 -- Cathey filed a petition for certiorari review in the U.S. Supreme Court.
January 10, 2000 -- Cathey’s petition for certiorari was denied by the Supreme Court.
March 15, 1999 -- Cathey filed a state application for writ of habeas corpus.
April 2, 2003 -- The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals denied Cathey’s application for writ of habeas corpus.
April 2, 2004 -- Cathey filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus in federal district court.
December 23, 2004 -- The district court denied Cathey relief and denies a certificate of appealability (“COA”).
January 21, 2005 -- Cathey filed a notice of appeal.
May 5, 2005 -- Cathey filed an application for COA with the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
April 7, 2006 The Fifth Circuit Court denied Cathey’s COA application.
PRIOR CRIMINAL HISTORY
It was shown at trial that Cathey had pleaded guilty to the offenses of driving with a suspended license in 1991 and in 1993, unlawful firearm possession in 1992, reckless conduct in 1993, facilitation of driving with a suspended license in 1995, and evading arrest or detention in 1995. Additional testimony revealed that Cathey committed several bad acts for which he was not prosecuted.
Link here (http://www.oag.state.tx.us/oagNews/release.php?id=2731)