Danny Ray Harris

Case record

Danny Ray Harris (offender #649) was executed by lethal injection in Texas on July 30, 1993.

Timeline

• July 30, 1993 — Danny Ray Harris was executed by lethal injection in Texas.
• July 1 — Curtis Harris was executed for the 1978 murder.
• June 1978 — Danny Harris and his brother Curtis Harris were sentenced for the 1978 murder of Timothy Merka.
• December 11, 1978 — On the night of December 11, 1978, Curtis Paul Harris, James Manuel, Curtis’s girlfriend Valerie Rencher, and Danny Harris drove to visit a friend in Bryan; Timothy Merka was attacked and killed.
• December 12, 1978 — The truck was found at 10:00 a.m. on Old Mumford Road in Bryan approximately four blocks from the Harris house.
• July 31, 1993 — The New York Times published an article about the execution and the Supreme Court’s denial of an appeal.

Background

Danny Harris was 18 at the time of the murder; Curtis Harris was 17. Timothy Merka was 27 and was an employee of Texas A&M University. At the time of his execution, Danny Harris was 32 years old.

Danny Harris’s lawyer, John Hottigner, insisted that his client was not the same person he was 15 years ago and that "the seed of goodness seems to have grown" in him.

Danny Harris said in an interview this week:

"I have peace. I have strength. I have courage, the comfort of Christ, the grace of God."

The Brazos County District Attorney, Bill Turner, said:

"If facing the death penalty caused him to reckon with his maker, so be it. I applaud him for that. But that doesn't make me think he's any less dangerous."

The offence

Attack on Timothy Merka (the “Good Samaritan” slaying)

On the night of December 11, 1978, Curtis Paul Harris, James Manuel, Curtis’s girlfriend Valerie Rencher, and Danny Harris drove their car to visit a friend in Bryan. Upon arriving at the friend’s house they discovered she was not there. Their car would not start, and the three men began to beat up the car and tear up the interior.

When no neighbor could be found to help with the car, the group walked down the road and flagged a passing pick-up truck. Tim Merka stopped his truck and attempted for 20-25 minutes to repair their car. Frustrated at the car’s continued breakdown, the group decided to take Merka’s truck.

Danny pushed Merka down and pinned him to the ground. While Danny sat on Merka’s chest, Curtis Harris began to beat him in the head with an automobile jack. Valerie Rencher testified that she begged him to stop but Harris hit the victim at least six more times.

Merka died of severe injuries to the head and brain. He suffered fifteen head lacerations that were consistent with having been inflicted by a bumper jack shaft and ratchet mechanism.

After the assault, they left Merka’s body in a ditch. They stole his wallet and his pickup.

Robbery at gunpoint of cash and donations

The group appropriated Merka’s shotgun and drove to a U-Totem store in Waller. They robbed the store at gunpoint of the cash in the till and a change bottle that contained donations for the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

After their return to Bryan about midnight, Danny Harris secreted Merka’s truck. The truck was found at 10:00 a.m. on December 12, 1978 on the Old Mumford Road in Bryan approximately four blocks from the Harris house.

Investigation

The case evidence included testimony from Valerie Rencher.

Trial

Danny Harris and his brother Curtis were sentenced for the 1978 murder of Timothy Merka.

Sentencing

Danny Harris and Curtis Harris were sentenced for the 1978 murder of Timothy Merka.

At the time of the murder, Danny Harris was 18 and Curtis Harris was 17.

Appeals

The United States Supreme Court voted 8 to 0 to reject an appeal from the condemned man.

Outcome

Danny Harris was executed by lethal injection in Texas on July 30, 1993.

Danny Harris’s last statement was:

"I would like to tell my family I love them very dearly, and I know they love me. I love all of the people who supported me all of these years. I would like to tell the Merka family I love them, too. I plead with all the teenagers to stop the violence and to accept Jesus Christ and find victory. Today I have victory in Christ and I thank Jesus for taking my spirit into His precious hands. Thank you, Jesus."

Second of 2 Brothers Is Executed in Texas For Murder in 1978.

Other details

Curtis Harris was executed on July 1. Danny Harris was executed nearly a month after his brother was put to death.