Eliseo Hernandez Moreno

Case record: Eliseo Hernandez Moreno

Eliseo Hernandez Moreno was executed by lethal injection in Texas on March 4, 1987.

Timeline

• Oct. 11, 1983 — Eliseo Moreno fatally shot Texas Department of Public Safety trooper Russell Lynn Boyd.
• February 10, 1984 — A jury decided on a death sentence for Eliseo Moreno.
• March 4, 1987 — Eliseo Moreno was injected with lethal drugs at 12:12 A.M. and pronounced dead at 12:19 A.M.

Background

Eliseo Moreno was a former lawn mower repairman from Donna, Tex.

Eliseo Moreno was 27 years old at the time of his execution.

The rampage was touched off by estrangement from his wife, Blanca.

Prosecutors said the rampage was set off by marital problems between Eliseo Moreno and his estranged wife, and authorities suggested he was on his way to the Rio Grande Valley to kill his wife when he was arrested.

The offence

Eliseo Moreno killed six people in a kidnapping and murder spree.

Prosecutors said the crime spree began in College Station, Tex., and included slayings of:

• Juan Garza and Juan Garza’s wife, Esther
• Russell Lynn Boyd, a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper
• Ann Bennatt, 70, a retired nurse in Hempstead
• Ann Bennatt’s sister, Allie Wilkins, 79
• Ann Bennatt’s brother-in-law, James Bennatt, 62

Trooper Russell Lynn Boyd was the third of six people prosecutors said Eliseo Moreno killed in the five-hour, 130-mile rampage.

Trooper Russell Lynn Boyd was shot after pulling over Eliseo Moreno for a traffic violation near Hempstead. Trial testimony said Trooper Boyd’s bulletproof vest deflected two shots from Eliseo Moreno’s .357-caliber Magnum, but Trooper Boyd was struck by four others. The testimony said the final shot struck Trooper Boyd’s head at close range while he lay wounded on the side of the road.

A family was then abducted and forced to drive Eliseo Moreno about 70 miles to Pasedena (Pasadena). He freed them and abducted another man at gunpoint.

Police halted Eliseo Moreno without incident at a roadblock in Wharton County.

Investigation / arrest / authorities

Authorities suggested Eliseo Moreno was on his way to the Rio Grande Valley to kill his wife when he was arrested 160 miles from where the first slayings occurred. Police finally arrested him at a roadblock.

Trial

A jury decided on a death sentence for Eliseo Moreno.

Eliseo Moreno was sentenced to death for the fatal shooting of Trooper Russell Lynn Boyd on Oct. 11, 1983.

He also received 35- and 45-year prison terms for the five other slayings.

Sentencing

A jury decided on a death sentence for Eliseo Moreno on February 10, 1984.

Appeals

Eliseo Moreno rejected all appeals and instructed lawyers to take no action to save him. He wanted no appeals when he told the judge who set his execution date that he wanted no appeals.

Outcome

Eliseo Moreno was executed early on March 4, 1987.

The injection began at 12:13 A.M. and Eliseo Moreno was pronounced dead six minutes later.

Attorney General Jim Mattox witnessed Eliseo Moreno’s execution by lethal injection.

In his final statement before the injection, Eliseo Moreno said:

''I'd like to say I'm here because I'm guilty,'' Mr. Moreno said before the injection. ''I have no grudges or anything against nobody. The word of God tells me the ways of sin are death. ''I'm willing to pay according to the laws of Texas because I know I'm guilty.''

In a death chamber statement, Attorney General Jim Mattox said:

''he jumped up on the table with a smile and said he was ready for the rocket to take off so he could finally go home - and he did.''

Eliseo Moreno gasped three times and appeared happy and almost cheerful.

Other details

Victims and ages

• Russell Lynn Boyd — Texas Department of Public Safety trooper, 25
• Juan Garza — brother-in-law of Eliseo Moreno
• Esther — wife of Juan Garza
• Ann Bennatt — 70, retired nurse in Hempstead
• Allie Wilkins — 79, sister of Ann Bennatt
• James Bennatt — 62, brother-in-law of Ann Bennatt

Weapons and circumstances mentioned at trial

• Trial testimony said Trooper Boyd was struck by four shots, including a final shot to the head at close range while he lay wounded.
• Trial testimony said Eliseo Moreno used a .357-caliber Magnum.

Last meal

Eliseo Moreno’s last meal was listed as: Four cheese enchiladas, two fish patties, french fries, milk catsup and lemon pie.