Ronnie Joe Neal

Background

Ronnie Joe Neal had prior prison sentences in Texas. TDCJ-ID #525256 reflected four ten year sentences for robbery, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and burglary of a habitation. TDCJ-ID #833215 reflected two five year sentences for burglary of a habitation.

The offence

On November 22, 2004 in Bexar County, Texas, Ronnie Joe Neal and a codefendant entered the private residence of the victim, a 58 year old white female. Neal and his codefendant forced the victim to have sexual intercourse. Neal and his codefendant then escorted the victim to a vehicle where she was shot 5 times.

The codefendant was Pearl Ann Cruz.

Investigation

On November 23, 2004, co-workers reported Diane missing to the Bexar County Sheriff's Department when she did not show for work.

On November 24, 2004, Diane's car was found near Cibolo Creek in Guadeloupe County. The car was totally burned.

Neal (33) and Pearl Ann Cruz (15) were arrested at a San Antonio motel in connection with the disappearance of Diane Tilly. Items belonging to Diane were in their possession at the time of their arrest.

Arrest

On November 24, 2004, Ronnie Joe Neal and Pearl Ann Cruz were arrested at a San Antonio motel in connection with the disappearance of Diane Tilly.

Trial

On December 4, 2004, Diane's body was recovered from under a brush pile in a muddy field as a result of information obtained from Pearl Cruz after she made a deal with the Bexar County DA. The deal limited her jail time to no more than thirty years. Pearl Cruz admitted by affidavit that she was a party to the abduction, rape, and murder of Diane by Ronnie Joe Neal and agreed to testify against him as a condition of the deal.

On December 13, 2004, Ronnie Joe Neal was indicted on capital murder charges in connection with the murder of Diane Allison Tilly.

On January 12, 2005, Ronnie Joe Neal was denied bail by Judge Sid Harle in the capital murder charge of Diane Allison Tilly.

On April 3, 2006, the punishment phase of trial began. Ronnie Joe Neal chose to be absent from the court room during this phase of the trial.

On March 1, 2006, a jury found Ronnie Joe Neal guilty of capital murder.

Defense attorneys requested a continuance to allow for psychiatric testing, stating that Neal was mentally retarded and should not receive the death penalty.

On July 14, 2005, an evidentiary hearing was held to exclude evidence and statements obtained at time of arrest of Ronnie Joe Neal. All requests were denied by Judge Sid Harle.

On January 13, 2006, jury selection began in 226th District Court, San Antonio, with Judge Sid Harle presiding.

On February 21, 2006, trial began in 226th District Court, San Antonio, TX (Bexar County).

Sentencing

On April 6, 2006, after almost five hours of deliberation, the jury sentenced Ronnie Joe Neal to death by lethal injection for the capital murder of Diane Allison Tilly.

On May 1, 2006, after a month of uncertainty as to Ronnie Neal's competency, Judge Sid Harle officially accepted the jury's decision and sentenced him to death by lethal injection.

On April 13, 2006, Judge sentenced Pearl Cruz, Ronnie Neal's daughter, to 30 years in prison for her part in the murder of Diane Tilly.

Appeals

On February 6, 2008, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals heard oral arguments.

On June 18, 2008, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals unanimously affirmed Ronnie Neal's death sentence.

On January 26, 2009, the US Supreme Court refused to review Neal's case.

Outcome

Ronnie Joe Neal was sentenced to death by lethal injection for the capital murder of Diane Allison Tilly.

Aftermath

On April 13, 2006, Pearl Cruz was sentenced to 30 years in prison for her part in the murder of Diane Tilly.

Timeline

• 11/22/04 — The offence occurred in Bexar County, Texas, when Neal and a codefendant forced the victim to have sexual intercourse and later shot her 5 times.
• 11/23/2004 — Co-workers reported Diane missing to the Bexar County Sheriff's Department.
• 11/24/2004 — Diane's car was found near Cibolo Creek in Guadeloupe County and totally burned; Neal and Pearl Ann Cruz were arrested at a San Antonio motel.
• 12/03/2004 — Memorial celebration of life service held at Alamo Heights Methodist Church in San Antonio.
• 12/04/2004 — Diane's body was recovered from under a brush pile in a muddy field; Pearl Cruz made a deal with the Bexar County DA and agreed to testify; she admitted by affidavit that she was a party to the abduction, rape, and murder of Diane.
• 12/08/2004 — Ronnie Joe Neal accused Bexar County sheriff's deputies of beating him.
• 12/11/2004 — Funeral service held for Diane Allison Tilly in hometown of Waxahachie, Texas.
• 12/13/2004 — Ronnie Joe Neal indicted on capital murder charges in connection with the murder of Diane Allison Tilly.
• 01/12/2005 — Bail denied by Judge Sid Harle.
• 04/01/2005 — Diane posthumously received the prestigious San Antonio Bar Association Peacemaker Award.
• 07/14/2005 — Evidentiary hearing held to exclude evidence and statements obtained at time of arrest; all requests denied by Judge Sid Harle.
• 07/21/2005 — Associate Judge Richard Garcia ordered DNA testing to determine paternity of a boy born on July 8 to Pearl Ann Cruz; results proved Neal was the father of the child.
• 10/03/2005 — Judge Sid Harle appointed lawyer Joel Perez to represent Ronnie Joe Neal when Cornelius Cox withdrew as his attorney.
• 11/22/2005 — Butterfly garden and bronze plaque dedicated in Diane's memory at Robbins Academy, the Alamo Heights High School alternative school where she was lead teacher.
• 01/13/2006 — Jury selection began in 226th District Court, San Antonio; Judge Sid Harle presiding.
• 02/03/2006 — Texas Association for Alternative Education dedicated its 16th Annual Conference in memory of Diane; the Alternative Learning Center of the Austin ISD presented a handmade mosaic tile bench in her memory to Robbins Academy.
• 02/21/2006 — Trial began in 226th District Court, San Antonio, TX (Bexar County).
• 03/01/2006 — Jury found Ronnie Joe Neal guilty of capital murder.
• 04/03/2006 — Punishment phase of trial began; Neal chose to be absent from the courtroom during this phase.
• 04/05/2006 — Ronnie Joe Neal attempted suicide while in the Bexar County jail by overdosing on a prescription medication.
• 04/06/2006 — After almost five hours of deliberation, jury sentenced Ronnie Joe Neal to death by lethal injection.
• 04/13/2006 — Judge sentenced Pearl Cruz to 30 years in prison.
• 05/01/2006 — Judge Sid Harle officially accepted the jury's decision and sentenced Neal to death by lethal injection.
• 01/26/2009 — US Supreme Court refused to review Neal's case.
• 06/18/2008 — Texas Court of Criminal Appeals unanimously affirmed Ronnie Neal's death sentence.

Other details

• The victim was Diane Allison Tilly.
• The victim was a 58 year old white female.
• Neal's then 16-year-old daughter, Pearl Cruz, was involved in the slaying.
• Testimony showed Pearl Cruz knocked on the victim's door under the pretense of needing to use the phone; when Tilly let her in both she and her father barged in.
• Testimony showed Neal raped the teacher while the teen held a gun on her.
• Evidence showed Neal and his codefendant robbed the woman of jewelry.
• Evidence showed Neal and his codefendant forced her to divulge the password to her ATM card so they could take money from her bank account.
• Evidence showed they took her away in her own car, which later was set on fire.
• Evidence showed Neal shot Tilly six times.
• Cruz testified against her father in exchange for a maximum prison sentence of 30 years.
• Cruz testified that her father had sexually abused her for years before the murder and sold her to other men for cash and drugs.
• Cruz gave birth to a son and her father was the father of the child.
• At his trial, Neal’s attorneys argued he was mentally retarded and should be spared the death penalty.
• Evidence showed Neal tried but failed to use a condom when he raped Tilly, then doused her with hydrogen peroxide in hopes of destroying his DNA.
• Evidence showed Neal used Tilly’s .357-caliber pistol for the murder weapon instead of his own gun.
• The pair was arrested after using the victim’s credit cards.
• A memorial celebration of life service was held at Alamo Heights Methodist Church in San Antonio.
• Funeral service was held for Diane Allison Tilly in hometown of Waxahachie, Texas.
• Butterfly garden and bronze plaque were dedicated in Diane's memory at Robbins Academy, the Alamo Heights High School alternative school where she was lead teacher.
• Texas Association for Alternative Education dedicated its 16th Annual Conference in memory of Diane.
• The Alternative Learning Center of the Austin ISD presented a handmade mosaic tile bench in her memory to Robbins Academy.
• Diane posthumously received the prestigious San Antonio Bar Association Peacemaker Award.
• David Galban, 2006 Waxahachie High School graduate, received the Diane Allison Tilly Memorial Scholarship at awards presentation on May 2, 2006.
• Neal chose to be absent from the court room during the punishment phase.
• Neal attempted suicide while in the Bexar County jail by overdosing on a prescription medication; how he obtained the medication was uncertain.
• On November 22, 2004, Neal and his codefendant entered Diane's private residence.
• Neal and his codefendant escorted the victim to a vehicle where she was shot.
• Co-defendants were mentioned only as Pearl Ann Cruz.