Pedro Solis Sosa

Background

Pedro Solis Sosa was convicted in 1983 of the murder of 55-year-old Texas deputy sheriff Ollie F. Childress Jr. During the events that led to the conviction, Sosa was 31-years-old and had a 17-year-old accomplice, Leroy Sosa.

The offence

During the morning of November 4, 1983, Sosa and his then 17-year-old accomplice Leroy Sosa flashed the lights of their vehicle to flag down Wilson County Deputy Sheriff Ollie “Sammy” Childress while they were driving on a rural road in Wilson County, Texas. When Deputy Childress stopped his car, Sosa pointed a handgun at him and told him to move to the passenger seat of his patrol vehicle.

Sosa then drove Deputy Childress’ vehicle to a dirt road where he directed Deputy Childress to exit his vehicle, remove his shirt, place himself in his own handcuffs, and climb into the trunk of his patrol car. Sosa and Leroy Sosa then drove the patrol vehicle to the LaVernia State Bank where they robbed the bank and unsuccessfully attempted to take two women as hostages.

After robbing the bank, Sosa and Leroy Sosa drove back to the isolated location where they had parked their vehicle. Sosa opened the trunk of the patrol car and shot Deputy Childress in the neck and head from close range because Deputy Childress had seen Petitioner’s face. After Sosa and Leroy Sosa had driven a short distance away, Sosa directed Leroy Sosa to return to the patrol car so that they could wipe off the trunk of that vehicle. When they returned, Sosa saw that Deputy Childress was still moving, so he again shot him in the neck and head from close range.

Investigation

Soon after police arrested Sosa on February 3, 1984, he signed a written confession admitting his guilt. Leroy Sosa also signed a written confession soon after his arrest on December 19, 1983, which was consistent with the key elements of Petitioner’s confession. Additionally, Leroy Sosa testified at Petitioner’s trial that Sosa shot Deputy Childress.

Arrest

Police arrested Sosa on February 3, 1984. Leroy Sosa was arrested on December 19, 1983.

Trial

A jury found Sosa guilty of capital murder on November 27, 1984. The next day, the jury answered both of the Texas capital sentencing special issues affirmatively.

Sentencing

The state trial judge sentenced Sosa to death by lethal injection the day after the jury answered the sentencing special issues affirmatively, and his execution date was January 7, 1985.

Appeals

When Childress had a fourth execution date set in 2005, family members of the victim expressed their frustration with the long wait. Roger Childress, son of Ollie Childress Jr., said:

“Two of my aunts have died, and I regret they don’t know this date arrived. I’m glad it will happen. I do think he has exhausted all of his appeals,”

Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackitt Jr. said:

“This has been a long 22 years following such a horrible crime,” “This will finally give closure to family, friends, members of the community, and the sheriff’s department.” “It has been long enough,” he said. “It seems that his attorneys have had sufficient time to verify all their facts that they are using to defend the man.”

However, the killer received yet another stay and has now been given a sixth execution date, almost 23 years after the brutal murder.

District Attorney Lynn Ellison said:

“Without a doubt, this is our oldest capital murder case,”

Ellison said his predecessor, Alger Kendall, allowed Sosa to remain on death row for about 4 years without bringing him back to Wilson County for the setting of an execution date.

Outcome

Sosa was sentenced to death by lethal injection, with a death sentence dated January 7, 1985.

Other details

Sosa and Leroy Sosa robbed the LaVernia State Bank and unsuccessfully attempted to take two women as hostages. Deputy Childress was shot in the neck and head from close range on two occasions. The robbery occurred in Wilson County, Texas, and the rural road stop and subsequent movements occurred in Wilson County, Texas.