Steven Lawayne Nelson received lethal injection at the Huntsville Unit of Texas on February 5th 2025 at the age of 37 years old.
He had spent twelve months and thirteen years incarcerated on death row because of his involvement in a murder that caused intense national discussion.
Nelson received his death sentence at the Huntsville Unit while continuing to assert his innocence through numerous appeals throughout the years.
A Texas court convicted Nelson for killing the NorthPointe Baptist Church pastor Reverend Clint Dobson upon finding him murdered at his Arlington, Texas location in 2011.
A violent church robbery surprised and burdened everyone in the community after the attack occurred.
The courtroom evidence demonstrated that Nelson struck his victim before he strangled and suffocated him until death occurred on the site.
The church secretary Judy Elliott survived an injury-inflicted attack with severe wounds during the incident.
Nelson continued to claim that during the crime he was only responsible for watching the area while others took part in the robbery and murder.
When he walked into the church building Dobson and Elliott remained alive and lying on the floor.
Credit: (Instagram/@justice_for_steven_nelson)
The convicted murderer obtained his conviction through court evidence such as fingerprints along with surveillance tapes during a 2012 trial.
The jury convicted him and judges sentenced him to death while his appeals failed to lead to any change in the verdict.
The lawyers who defended Nelson continuously challenged his initial conviction since his representation had been inadequate and several pieces of evidence seemed questionable.
All appeals failed to gain success at both state and federal courts as well as the U.S. Supreme Court which maintained the ruling.
All sides supporting and opposing the death penalty followed the approaching execution date of the case.
Opponents of the execution held public vigils and protests around the prison facility while requesting mercy since Nelson claimed his innocence.
The public demanded justice for the surrendered individual while his grieving relatives needed compensation from the perpetrator.
Credit: (Instagram/@justice_for_steven_nelson)
Nelson died at 6:50 p.m. local time on Wednesday making him the second person to meet their end through execution in the United States during 2025.
Nelson received a chance to express his final thoughts before execution took place in the execution chamber.
The white service dog accompanied his wife Helene Noa Dubois during the emotional proceedings from the witness area.
Nelson told her numerous times to carry on with her life and to enjoy it as he provided his heartfelt appreciation of everything she did for him.
In his chilling last words, he said, “I’m not scared. It’s cold s**t in here. But I’m at peace. I’m ready to be at home.”
The lethal dosage of pentobarbital was administered only after Nelson finalized his last request.
“Give Monkey a hug for me,” he told his wife, referring to their dog, which she had brought into the witness room.
He then whispered, “Let me go to sleep,” before mouthing the word “love” twice.
The drugs caused his body to experience a slight trembling before personnel pronounced his death 24 minutes later.
Jeff Hood who served as the spiritual advisor told USA Today that officials needed an extensive amount of time to confirm Nelson had passed away. He fought to the very end.”
Death row inmates had four reservations for executions for the upcoming three-month period. Nelson’s execution served as the beginning.
The recent judicial execution of Dennis Mauro has sparked new discussions about death penalty morality combined with legal system incorrectness in capital punishment practices.
The jury convicted Nelson even though he had escaped trial for murdering another prisoner in his 2012 case which remained without resolution.
Credit: (Instagram/@justice_for_steven_nelson)
A heartbreaking main moment from the execution emerged when Nelson’s wife together with their dog appeared.
Helene Noa Dubois raised their white service dog to the window soon after her marriage to Nelson which took place only two weeks before his execution.
Nelson reacted to this emotional act during his final moments by showing unexpected compassion in his notorious case.
Feature Image Credit: (Instagram/@justice_for_steven_nelson)