Miguel Angel Flores

Case record: Miguel Angel Flores

Background

Miguel Angel Flores was a Mexican foreign national with no prior criminal record.

The offence

Flores kidnapped Eastern New Mexico University student Angela Tyson as she was closing and leaving a video rental store where she was working for the summer in Borger, Texas. He forced Tyson into her car and drove to a remote location away from the city. At the remote location, Flores raped Tyson and stabbed her repeatedly, killing her.

Flores rented a movie from the store, went home, began watching it, and returned a short time later to await the store’s closing time. Flores abducted Angela at knifepoint as she was closing the store and forced her into her car.

After the rape, Flores drove Angela to a spot where they were seen by Angela Tyson’s father. Flores approached the driver’s side of the car and pushed Angela to the floorboard, then tried to run down Angela’s father with her car. Angela’s father tried to chase them but lost track of the fleeing vehicle.

Flores drove back to Borger, where he parked the car and talked to Angela for several minutes. When Angela began screaming, Flores stabbed her with a pocket knife. Tyson was stabbed 6 times in the chest and 4 times in the back. Her body was found in the front seat of her car about 1 a.m. on June 29, 1989.

Flores confessed to the murder and led police to the rape site for additional evidence.

Investigation

Flores gave police four tape recorded statements confessing to the murder. Flores told police that he and Angela sat in her car for about ten minutes without talking and then he took out a pocket knife and stabbed her.

DNA tests performed on semen found on Tyson’s body showed the DNA matched Flores.

Flores’ car was found at the video store where he kidnapped Tyson.

Trial

Flores was convicted and sentenced to death for the June 1989 murder of Angela Tyson.

Flores was convicted and sentenced to death by a Collin County jury in September 1990 for the 1989 abduction, rape and fatal stabbing of Angela Tyson in Borger.

Sentencing

Flores was sentenced to death and went to death row in 1990.

Appeals

December 8, 1993 — Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed Flores’ conviction. March 9, 1994 — Texas Court of Criminal Appeals denied rehearing. October 11, 1994 — U.S. Supreme Court denied Flores’ petition for writ of certiorari. June 5, 1995 — Flores filed an application for writ of habeas corpus in state court; the trial court recommended denial of relief. July 28, 1995 — Court of Criminal Appeals denied relief. November 6, 1998 — District court denied relief based on the petition for federal habeas corpus that Flores filed. April 20, 2000 — Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the district court’s denial of relief.

Flores’ clemency petition with the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles was pending.

Aftermath

On Aug. 5, 1995, Flores received a stay of execution from U.S. District Judge William Wayne Justice. Attorney John Jay Thorpe asked the court to appoint him to represent Flores at the federal level and to put off the execution. Justice granted Thorpe’s request and gave him 180 days to prepare the petition that would challenge the constitutionality of Flores’ conviction and death sentence.

Flores’ execution occurred on November 9, 2000, by lethal injection in Texas. After Flores was pronounced dead, Gerald Tyson and Minnie said they would not forgive Flores. Gerald Tyson of Borger said: "He took away too much," adding that his family wanted the world to know that Angela Tyson was a precious life.

Flores thanked his family and attorneys for their faith as he was strapped to a gurney waiting for the lethal injection. He apologized to the parents of his victim and told them he had said a prayer this day for them to find peace. After turning his head to look at the parents of his victim, Flores said: "God is waiting for me," and then: "God is waiting now."

Flores’ last meal was Mexican food. He requested three beef enchiladas, three cheese enchiladas, Spanish rice, a bowl of jalapenos, french fries, a cheeseburger, condiments, three Dr Peppers, a banana split and four quesadillas.

Flores’ only family witness was an aunt. His mother, grandfather and other relatives waited nearby, described as "immobilized with grief" by his attorney, Elizabeth Cohen. Flores’ supporters included the Mexican government and other international leaders.

Flores’ defense team sought a 30-day reprieve from the governor, recommended against by the Texas board of pardons and paroles late Wednesday. The governor could grant only a 30-day reprieve without a board recommendation for clemency. The U.S. Supreme Court voted against staying Flores’ execution for 30 days. A spokesman for Flores’ defense team, Mark Warren, said: "Why stay the execution if you don't want to hear the case?" He also noted: "In a death penalty case, four court votes for a hearing grants an automatic stay of execution."

Flores’ supporters had been hopeful for a call from Gov. George W. Bush to hold off the execution for 30 days. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals upheld Flores’ conviction and death sentence in December 1993 and denied an application for relief on July 28, 1995.

Other details

Angela Tyson was a 20-year-old Eastern New Mexico University student and beauty pageant finalist who was working in a Borger video store for the summer.

The execution setting included a warden’s signal, after which Flores nodded and spoke: "God is waiting for me" and "God is waiting now."