Jerome Butler

Case record

Jerome Butler was executed by lethal injection in Texas on April 21, 1990.

Timeline

• June 17, 1986 — Jerome Butler robbed and fatally shot Houston cabdriver Nathan Oakley, 67.
• 1959 — Jerome Butler received a term in New York for robbery and attempted sexual assault.
• 1984 — Jerome Butler was released.
• April 21, 1990 — Jerome Butler was put to death by lethal injection.
• April 22, 1990 — The New York Times published a report on the execution.
• January 7, 1988 — Jerome Butler was put to death willingly in Texas since Robert Streetman ordered his lawyers to make no further efforts on his behalf.
• 1982 — Texas resumed use of the death penalty; Jerome Butler was identified as the 34th inmate executed since then.
• 1976 — A Supreme Court ruling allowed states to resume capital punishment; nationally, Jerome Butler was identified as the 122d person executed since that ruling.

Background

Jerome Butler spent time in New York's Sing Sing penitentiary for robbery and sex crimes. He was sentenced to 30 years for a Houston murder that occurred five months after his parole, and he served one-third of that sentence before being released in 1984. His education level was High school graduate or GED. He was recorded as age 54, although he said he was several years older. His last statement before execution was: "I wish everybody a good life. Everything is O.K."

The offence

Jerome Butler was sentenced to death for the 1986 shooting death and robbery of 67-year-old Nathan Oakley of Houston. Prosecutors said Mr. Butler may have killed Mr. Oakley because the driver recognized him as the man who killed a friend in 1973. Mr. Butler spent 27 years behind bars beginning with a term in New York in 1959 for robbery and attempted sexual assault.

Trial

Jerome Butler was convicted of a Houston murder that occurred five months after his parole. He was sentenced to death for the 1986 shooting death and robbery of 67-year-old Nathan Oakley.

Sentencing

He was sentenced to 30 years for the earlier murder described as occurring in Houston five months after his parole, and he served one-third of that sentence before being released in 1984.

Appeals

Jerome Butler demanded that his lawyers halt efforts to stop his execution. His lawyer Vic Pecorino said: "Without cooperation from him, what are you going to appeal?" and also said: "Mr. Butler could have been spared if he had had a change of heart."

Outcome

At 12:15 A.M., Jerome Butler received a lethal injection. He said: "I just want to say I wish everybody a good life and things like that; everything is O.K." He nodded to the prison warden and a chaplain, coughed several times and stopped breathing. At 12:26 A.M. he was pronounced dead.

Aftermath

Jerome Butler was described as the first person to be executed willingly in Texas since Robert Streetman ordered his lawyers to make no further efforts on his behalf. He was described as the 34th inmate to be executed since Texas resumed use of the death penalty in 1982, and as the 122d person executed nationally since a 1976 Supreme Court ruling allowed states to resume capital punishment. Mr. Butler said last month when his execution date was set: "I just want to get it over with," and "There won't be no appeals."

Nathan Oakley's widow, Robbie Oakley, expressed satisfaction at the impending execution. She said: "This is what I've been waiting for, for this moment, to know this man cannot take away another wife's husband and children's father," and "It's been a difficult three and a half years. I wish I could be there to see it."