Jesus Flores

Overview

Jesus Flores received a death sentence and was later found dead in his cell with his throat cut. He had a TDCJ number of 999401 and was born on 08/02/1982.

Timeline

• 05/22/2001 — Flores took a family member's car without permission and Harris County deputies pursued him.
• 12/19/2001 — Flores was sentenced to death.
• 01/29/2008 — Flores was found dead in his cell with his throat cut.
• 10/2006 — Another inmate, Michael Johnson, allegedly committed suicide at the same unit.

Background

Jesus Flores had an education level of 12/19/2001 with an age of 19 when received. His prior prison record was none. His prior occupation was listed as a pool installer and laborer. He had a Native county and Native state listed as Harris, Texas. He was Hispanic and male, with brown hair, a height of 5 ft 7 in, a weight of 165, and brown eyes. He was 18 at the time of the crime and 19 when sentenced to die.

Flores described himself as an individual on Texas Death Row who committed a crime described as murder of a police officer, and he said he was 18 at the time and 19 when sentenced to die.

The offence

On May 22, 2001 in Houston, Flores took a family member's car without permission. The incident was reported to law enforcement.

A 35-year-old white male Harris County deputy pursued Flores. While the deputy was applying handcuffs to Flores, Flores shot the deputy in the head using a gun that Flores had concealed. The deputy died as a result.

The record identified the victim as a 35-year-old sheriff’s deputy Joseph Dennis.

Investigation

The family member reported the car stolen to law enforcement.

Arrest

The deputies pursued Flores after the report of the stolen car. While a deputy was applying handcuffs, Flores shot the deputy in the head with a concealed gun.

Trial

Flores was convicted for the murder of a 35-year-old sheriff’s deputy Joseph Dennis in 2001. Flores said he was 18 at the time of the crime and 19 when sentenced to die for his crime.

Flores also provided a detailed account in which he said:

“On May 21st 2001 I borrowed a car that belonged to my sister.”

He said the sister was in Germany on military duty and that his family had permission to use the car at times. He said he took the car and went out with some friends, and that:

“We smoked marijuana, drank alcohol and did cocain.”

He said he was a drug addict and that on the night in question he took Xanax mixed with alcohol:

“Well, me and my friends started with 4 pills each, but my friend had over 25.”

Flores said he woke around 6:00 a.m. on May 22, saw the car damaged, dropped his friends off, and went home. He said his mother noticed he was not sober and asked where he was. He stated:

“In the time I was gone maybe 10 or 15 minutes, a cop shows up at my home to do a report.”

He said he used the phone and headed home, saw the cop car, and instead of stopping continued to go:

“Well since the cop asked what car I was in he knew it was me who passed by.”

Flores said he stopped at a dead end street, got out, and asked the officer what was going on. He said the officer did not respond and:

“he grabs me and paces me on the hood of my car. He spreads my legs and does a search of my body.”

Flores said the officer placed handcuffs on his left wrist, and he described reaching for a gun in his back right hand pocket:

“What he failed to do was find a gun I had in my back right hand pocket.”

He said he reached for the gun, pulled it out, turned, raised it, and:

“by the time I fully turned around I had fired one shot.”

He said he grabbed the officer’s gun and left:

“I grabbed his gun and left fast.”

Flores said:

“I took a man's life.”

Sentencing

Flores was sentenced to death on December 19, 2001.

Flores said:

“I came to Death Row at age 19.”

He also stated he would have to do at least 40 years if the death sentence were taken away and said:

“I can only get 40 years if I get my death sentence taken away.”

Appeals

Flores said he had lawyers on his appeal and described them as assigned by the state. He said:

“The state of Texas assigned these lawyers, the same lawyer who was on my trial, that was payed by the court is on my appeal.”

He also said:

“The court that sent me to death row is paying the people to try and save my life.”

He stated he could not afford his own attorney or investigators and had to accept the ones he received “4 free.” He said he did not trust them and described his view:

“I don't trust them, because in order for them to keep getting clients by the state they have to please the court. They do a half ass job.”

He said he was fighting for his life through his appeal and asked for help for his family and himself, including mental and financial support, and he requested donations to pay for a private agency to handle his appeal.

Outcome

Jesus Flores was found dead in his cell with his throat cut on January 29, 2008. The record stated that he was pronounced dead shortly after 5:AM after being found by a corrections guard early Tuesday morning. Flores was covered in his own blood.

Flores reportedly tried to write a note in his own blood on his cell wall, but the note was not readable.

The record also stated that another inmate, Michael Johnson, allegedly committed suicide at the same unit in October 2006. It further stated Johnson wrote on his cell wall with his own blood the words:

“I didn't do it.”

Aftermath

Flores described conditions on death row, including hunger strikes by inmates at the Polunsky death row unit and complaints about extreme isolation and lack of human contact, which he said were among their complaints. He also discussed lethal injection and referenced claims about the three-drug mixture and excruciating pain.

Flores wrote that Texas had put a halt on executions due to the Supreme Court reviewing whether lethal injection was cruel and unusual. He also referred to Texas as having executed more inmates since reinstatement of the death penalty and referred to it as “The Killing State”.

Other details

Flores discussed being intoxicated at the time of the crime, and he stated that:

“In my case the court has proof I was intoxicated, a medical examiner testified what this drug does.”

He said:

“I told them thet I "didn't think when it happened". I just "snapped" like a "reflex". I wasn't myself. I "wasn't right in my mind". Id on't want to say I'm not responsible 'cause I am.”

He stated he accepted that he should be punished and said:

“I accept that I should be punished, but I don't believe I should pay with my life.”

Flores addressed the death penalty and questioned who deserves to die, asserting that the death penalty “works in crooked ways” and discussed eligibility criteria related to certain crimes including murder of a cop.

He stated:

He also said:

“Why destroy 2 lives, 2 familys.”

Flores wrote:

“I have lawyers on my appeal. Appeal is where I'm fighting for my life.”

He also wrote:

“I am currently asking for donations to pay for a private agency to handle my appeal and fight for my life.”

Flores used the phrase:

“Crazy, ain't it?”

He stated he felt blessed to be alive and had family who cared and supported him:

“I feel blessed to be alive and have family who cares and supports me.”

He wrote:

“Every thing is God's will, I leave my life in his hands, but my soul in mine . . .”