Richard Dinkins

Case overview

Richard Dinkins was executed in Texas on January 29, 2003. He was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death in connection with the killing of Katherine Thompson and Shelly Cutler.

Timeline

• Sept. 12, 1990 — Richard Dinkins killed Katherine Thompson and Shelly Cutler at Thompson's massage therapy clinic in Beaumont, Texas.
• Feb. 26, 1992 — Richard Dinkins was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death in the 252nd District Court of Jefferson County, Texas.
• Feb. 1, 1995 — The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed Dinkins' conviction and sentence.
• Oct. 2, 1995 — The Supreme Court denied his petition for writ of certiorari.
• Nov. 4, 1998 — The Court of Criminal Appeals denied Dinkins' state habeas petition.
• March 31, 2001 — The federal district court denied the writ of federal habeas relief.
• March 28, 2002 — The Fifth Circuit affirmed the denial.
• Oct. 7, 2002 — The Supreme Court denied certiorari.
• Jan. 29, 2003 — Richard Dinkins was executed by lethal injection in Texas.

The offence

On Sept. 12, 1990, Richard Dinkins killed Katherine Thompson and Shelly Cutler at Thompson's massage therapy clinic in Beaumont, Texas.

Both Katherine Thompson and Shelly Cutler were clients of Thompson. Dinkins had an appointment that evening with Thompson to discuss a bad check he had written earlier.

Before the appointment, Dinkins placed a .357 revolver and a .25-caliber automatic handgun in a shoulder sling he wore due to an old injury. He had purchased the .357 handgun and ammunition a day prior to the offence.

After a brief discussion about the bad check, a heated argument took place between Dinkins and Thompson. Thompson pushed Dinkins toward the door into the waiting room where Cutler sat. Dinkins stated that Thompson struck his injured arm, hurting him.

During the altercation, both handguns fell from Dinkins' sling to the floor. Dinkins picked up the .25 and fired at Thompson but missed; while attempting to fire again, the gun jammed. Dinkins then picked up the .357 and shot Thompson in the upper abdomen and then in the head, with both shots taken at close range.

Cutler, who was in the waiting room when the shooting started, tried to lock herself in Thompson's office. Dinkins fired through a reception window at Cutler, striking her once in the top of the head.

Dinkins fled in his vehicle as the fire alarm sounded.

Thompson suffered two fatal gunshot wounds—one to her head and one to her abdomen. She died before reaching the hospital shortly after the shooting.

Cutler died the next morning. She died of a single gunshot wound to the head.

A firearms expert testified that slugs recovered at the crime scene were fired from Dinkins' .357 revolver. An FBI forensic serologist testified that blood found on Dinkins' blue jeans was consistent with Thompson's blood type.

Investigation and evidence

Dinkins' name was found in an appointment book at the business. After his arrest, he confessed to the murders.

Blood was found on Dinkins' clothing. The .357 murder weapon was found at his home.

Prior criminal history

Dinkins had no juvenile criminal history and no adult incarcerations. He had been convicted of theft by a check in 1986 in Abilene, Texas. He was fined for issuance of bad checks in July 1990 in Lumberton, Texas.

Trial

Dinkins was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death in the 252nd District Court of Jefferson County, Texas, on Feb. 26, 1992.

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed Dinkins' conviction and sentence on Feb. 1, 1995.

Dinkins' silence at trial in determining punishment became part of later post-trial investigation discussed by his attorney. Two jurors admitted to their consideration of Dinkins' silence at trial in determining punishment during Hamm’s post-trial investigation.

Appeals and post-conviction proceedings

Dinkins sought certiorari in the Supreme Court, which denied his petition for writ of certiorari on Oct. 2, 1995.

On Nov. 4, 1998, the Court of Criminal Appeals denied Dinkins' state habeas petition.

Dinkins then sought federal habeas relief. The federal district court denied the writ on March 31, 2001. The Fifth Circuit affirmed on March 28, 2002. The Supreme Court denied certiorari on Oct. 7, 2002.

Sentencing

On Feb. 26, 1992, Dinkins received a death sentence for the capital murders of Katherine Thompson and Shelly Cutler.

Execution

Dinkins was scheduled to be executed after 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2003.

Before lethal drugs began, Dinkins declined to make a final statement. When asked if he wanted to say anything, he responded, "No sir".

In a written statement, Dinkins asked for forgiveness and expressed regrets:

"I am sorry for what happened and that it was because of me that they are gone,"
"If there were any way I could change things and bring them back I would. But I can't."

He accepted responsibility for the damage his actions caused and said he had made peace with God, hoping that "soon everyone will be able to have closure in their hearts and lives."

During the execution, he gasped and was silent. He was pronounced dead at 6:18 p.m. (with one account stating he was pronounced dead seven minutes after 6:11 p.m.).

Dinkins' final meal was listed as: liver and onions; two double meat hamburgers with bacon and mayonnaise; two orders of French fries; vanilla ice cream; two Dr. Peppers; salad with ranch dressing; and M&M's.

Other details

Victims and victim ages

• Katherine Thompson, 46, was killed at Thompson's massage therapy clinic.
• Shelly Cutler, 32, was killed at Thompson's massage therapy clinic.

Additional people and roles named

• J.D. Hamm, attorney for Dinkins.
• Paul McWilliams, prosecutor.
• Diane Shaffer, friend of Thompson.
• Pollie Dean, who supervised Thompson in her substance-abuse counseling at Beaumont Neurological Hospital.
• Marcille Cutler, Cutler's parent (mother).
• Larry Cutler, Cutler's parent (father).
• Mike Thompson, Katherine Thompson's son.
• Greg Abbott, Texas Attorney General.
• Lisa Smith, identified as Dinkins' cousin.
• Jim Smith, described as a spiritual advisor.

Quotations recorded

Diane Shaffer said:

"I was so angry for so long because she helped so many people,"

Shaffer also said:

"Knowing what Kitty was all about, it's a little difficult to stay angry at something she wouldn't have stayed angry about,"

Shaffer added:

"...There's a person who's now gone who could still be helping people."

Pollie Dean said:

"I believe he deserves it, and I've never been real for or against the death penalty,"
"But when it hits you personally and you see the devastation it causes for the entire family and the entire community ... I wouldn't feel safe with him being turned back out into the community. It is, I think, what prisons are made for and the death penalty is made for."

Marcille Cutler said:

"None of us feel resentful,"
"We just feel like justice will be served because we're confident that the trial was a fair trial. The evidence was so overwhelming. We felt like he was guilty and the jury did too. We just feel like this is justice."

When describing Thompson’s comment before the murders, Diane Shaffer said:

"Lock your doors because there's crazies around,"

Mike Thompson said:

"I never hated the man, (but) he took my mother,"
"I just wanted to make sure the same happened to him ... justice was done."

Mike Thompson also said:

"Death is death,"
"The punishment fit the crime. I came here to make sure he got what was coming to him."

Paul McWilliams said:

"The thing that stands out is the murder of the second victim,"

McWilliams also said:

"That's not to diminish in any way what Katherine Thompson went through, but I guess it's one thing to know that someone is trying to kill you."

McWilliams stated:

"We believe she was trying to call 911, and he reached through the window and shot her,"

Dinkins said:

"I saw someone out of the corner of my eye after Ms. Thompson was shot and I heard the door rattling,"
"I didn't know who was there. I could see someone with something in their hand. "
"I shot at the door knob to keep whoever was back there from coming out. I didn't know I hit her. It looked like they had ducked."

Dinkins said:

"It was my fault,"
"I guess you just say -- stupidity."

Dinkins said:

"I can't be bitter,"
"I'm the one who put myself in this situation."

Jim Smith said:

"He made his peace with God. He's not in prison anymore, boys."

Names and addresses listed for incarceration

Richard Eugene Dinkins was listed as #999022 at the Polunsky Unit, with address details provided as: 3872 FM 350 South Livingston, Texas 77351.