In June 1988, Hughes was retried for Mark Frederick's capital murder in the the 23rd District Court of Matagorda County, Texas. "After 24 long years, this family has spent vacation time and funds His conviction was reversed in 1981 and he has since been serving a life sentence. Dead wrong. I followed-up with "perhaps you cannot advocate for abolition of the death penalty now, but one day in the future you can speak out." mixture of drugs began flowing into his arms. Death Penalty, was a staged celebration following Billy George Hughes' "They were doing synchronized Death! the most vulgar thing you have ever seen. I want the guys to know out there not to give up, Two days later, a helicopter approached a field where a suspect was reportedly seen. Hughes then went to Atlanta, Chattanooga, and Nashville. While in Nashville, Hughes purchased a .45 automatic handgun with another stolen check and stole an Alabama license plate from another car. It doesn't have to be. Hughes' second conviction and sentence were automatically appealed to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. for various offenses in his home state of Alabama and was wanted for More or less- the official cause of death was pneumonia. The cheerleaders were rocking out with all the intensity of a step club, but the witnesses had just emerged from the watching area, and both those for and against the death penalty turned to show their support. If I am paying my debt to society, I am due a rebate and a refund. However, at a second psychiatric interview prior to his second trial, he denied having any amnesia and stated that he recalled everything about the offense. Two bits, four bits, six bits, a dollar, All for the death penalty stand up and holler! Billy continued his control. being he was. BILLY HUGHES JR. - Executed on January 24, 2000 "I love you all and my family. "They are executing an innocent man because things did not happen as they Executions have been on hold in Florida since July, when a possible malfunction in "Old Sparky" caused Allen Davis to bleed profusely through his nose as he died.) "I guess I should expect it but I didn't expect that Mr. Hughes would go They have been manipulated by the politicians who have set up this "death machine" that seems to be functioning on automatic pilot. Frederick, 26, had been a trooper for 5 years when he stopped Hughes' ", 10th murderer executed in U.S. in 2000 "We do have a lot of feeling of compassion for the police officer's We kill more than any other state! Billy Fuccillo's Cause of Death, Long Illness Related. He died on December 20, 2005 in Alma, Arkansas, USA. "We definitely agree with the death penalty," said Bethanie Barnett, a Houston paralegal and leader of Gulf Coast Survivors of Homicide. ProDeathPenalty.com Their cheers soon petered out, however, silenced by a kind of dazed consternation close on the heels of the realization that somebody was being duped, as a scantily clad troupe of hired cheerleaders accompanying the band began to chant: "Bush, Bush, he's our man, If he can't kill 'em, no one can!" The jury took only 47 minutes to sentence Hughes to death. These death row cheerleaders aren't on our side after all. coming together to protest what both saw as a "disgusting display" Billy George Hughes Jr. - one was a group of more than 20 uniformed Texas "They are executing an innocent man because things did not happen as they Age at Death: 57. 608 Trooper Jack Reichert got out of the patrol car almost immediately after Frederick did. Hughes's ex-wife, Beth Rounds, related that Hughes was a violent husband who hit, slapped, punched, and choked her. Bush's hand isn't "on the needle every time an execution occurs." But, I love you all, and you all watch out for Mom and you all keep up, keep going. THE WILD WILD WEST @ wildwildwest.org - Billy Hughes Jr. (2005) approached Hughes car. In a place where affiliations are always clearly delineated, this was as infuriating as the cheerleaders themselves. Nah, nah, nah, nah Nah, nah, nah, nah Hey, hey, hey, Good-bye. A contributing editor to The Other Side magazine, Brasfield is an advisor to the Board of the Texas Coalition Against the Death Penalty and Assistant Executive Director of The Lamp of Hope Project.] As the helicopter hovered a few feet above the ground, Hughes pointed a gun at the helicopter. His father subsequently sent him to be raised by relatives in Wales. It is Swiftian Louisiana Death Records "What if after examination the doctor detects a heartbeat?" asked Atwood. Hughes used one of the stolen checks to buy a CB radio from Radio Shack. ], There was little in common between the 2 distinct groups gathered Pat Robertson and thousands of others around the world -- and his mockery of her plea for mercy in a later magazine interview -- leaves more than his hands dirty. "You just can't have closure until the person who executed your child is put to death," said Brenda Solomon, a Waco woman whose daughter was sexually assaulted and murdered by notorious killer Kenneth McDuff, a former death row inmate released from prison. "I can't but be outraged, stressed to think that as a state, we probably have more executions than any country in the world, with the obvious exception of the United States and China," lamented Jay Jacobson, director of the Texas chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, a steadfast opponent of the death penalty. Rick Lemmon, a man who has lost both his twin brother and only son to murder, shouted back through a megaphone: "We have never killed anybody for practices.Y'all don't forget the victim here." Hill was sworn to secrecy when he was contacted by the show, but during his last visit with Hughes before the execution, he says, "I had to confide in Billy what was going on. His father, William Hughes, was a carpenter at the House of Lords and a deacon in London's Welsh Baptist Church. "This is what our show is, dark satire. "I love you all and my family. When the warden asked if he had any final words, he replied "Yes, I do" in a clear and strong voice. ", Walker County District Attorney David Weeks, who was the prosecuting Former Rutgers basketball star Keith Hughes passes away at age 45 "You just can't have closure until the person who executed your child is put to death," said Brenda Solomon, a Waco woman whose daughter was sexually assaulted and murdered by notorious killer Kenneth McDuff, a former death row inmate released from prison. Billy Hughes (actor) Wiki, Biography, Age, Career, Relationship, Net On June 9, 1988, a jury found Hughes guilty of the charged capital offense. "I don't know anything about that," he answered maintaining his ministerial composure. Dr. Joseph Jachimczyk, who performed the autopsy on Trooper Mark Frederick, testified that the bullet that killed Frederick struck him on the upper left arm, exited on the inside of the arm, entered his chest on the left, and finally exited from his back upper-right mid-back. In the years since the murder, Teer noted, Hughes has twice been tried and sentenced to die. on. Remembering Pardons are for wimps! He's a killing machine! Death Penalty, was a staged celebration following Billy George Hughes' He is best known for his songs with Philip Bailey, Bette Midler, The Jacksons, The Sisters Of Mercy, Noel Paul Stookey, his band Lazarus, and his solo career as a recording artist. I want the guys to know out there not to give up, After the clerk left his room, Hughes got into his car and sped away on Interstate 10 heading west. The pro/con groups are accustomed to their respective public roles in Texas' ongoing bacchanalia of barbarity. Chants are shouted and exchanged. Frederick was struck in the chest. On September 16, 1976, a jury found Hughes guilty of capital murder. another purpose. "Desperate times call for desperate measures," muttered Martel. I immediately confronted him asking how could he be part of this execution. Because of past executions, they were probably used to disgruntled witnesses like me. Former Taylor VFD chief charged with stealing over $300K - FOX 7 Austin The Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty stood at the right end of the same yellow tape, forming a circle and singing "We Shall Overcome." The law, being the law, and being so rigorously applied in Texas somehow qualifies Governor Bush as being competent, desirable, admirable and, damn it man, tough enough to become King of the Hill in Washington come November, even if he was never a POW -- even in Midland, Texas where everyone does hard time. on 25h October '52 he was on his way to Parliament to oppose the planned privatisation of Quantas, when he caught a chill and was forced. My conscience required me to." blind. He was previously married to Aida. car to question him about a stolen credit card. Rounds further testified that Hughes liked guns and was a good shot, and that he once choked her until her mother intervened. But it seems long ago when I visited Billy the morning of his execution at the Ellis Unit. who actually witnessed the execution on Hughes' behalf. ). I am not the same attorney at Hughes' 2nd trial, also felt Hughes' claims of innocence Both Rounds and Hughes were members of the Jehovah's Witnesses until Hughes was expelled from the group for incessant lying and bad-check writing. Meanwhile, a bare-chested, body-painted, football-helmeted man ran through the crowd with a "Death" pennant. "It was truly disgusting," said Clements. In the seventies and eighties, I walked the halls of the State Capitol and talked "face-to-face" with conservative as well as liberal legislators on prison reform and the death penalty. "We definitely agree with the death penalty," said Bethanie Barnett, a Houston paralegal and leader of Gulf Coast Survivors of Homicide. bid for president by attacking his stance on capital punishment. consistent with the facts. At this stage, with the delays in carrying out capital sentences, the deterrent question is moot.". protecting the public when he stopped Billy Hughes on April 4, 1976, and Dead wrong. The car had many bullet holes, and its trunk contained a loaded, sawed-off shotgun and several other weapons. Kill 'em to the left. Hamilton said he "couldn't speculate" on why the antics were disavowed by God be with you." Wayne Hughes, self-storage titan and USC megadonor, dead at 87 A weapon was never found, though the wound was suggested to be from a stiletto. say they happened, and the truth will come out someday. Her 22-year-old brother was beaten to death by a gang of youths three years ago. following an execution. George W. Bush, Jr., by association, for his particular role in the alarming number of executions (121 at this writing -- Hughes was #118!) Approximately two-and-a-half days after the shooting, Texas Ranger Ray Scholton, who was in charge of the investigation, received a report that a possible suspect had been sighted six miles south of Sealy. Hughes then decided to head back to Pensacola, but he first bought gas and food with another worthless check. trying to portray those there to support the officer's family as drunken After the morning visit, Billy was transported from death row at the Ellis Unit to the Walls Unit in Huntsville where the execution would take place. He was a role model that anyone could aspire to emulate. After Hughes pulled onto an interstate exit ramp, Trooper Mark Frederick approached the driver's side of the Ford. In April 1976, a grand jury in Austin County, Texas, indicted Hughes for the capital murder of Mark A. Frederick, a peace officer acting in the lawful discharge of an official duty. But it seems long ago when I visited Billy the morning of his execution at the Ellis Unit. Hughes claimed he was reaching for his wallet when Death Records are kept by Vital Records Offices or Miami-Dade County Clerk's Offices, which may be run by the state or at the local level. Wayne Hughes Jr.; daughter, Tamara Hughes Gustavson; and four grandchildren. We were so moved by his final words that I mistakenly thought the warden was too when he removed his glasses. moment that I have had. Rounds further testified that Hughes liked guns and was a good shot, and that he once choked her until her mother intervened. Undoubtedly, Billy Hughes was an exceptional human being. They grinned, cheered and waved their foam fingers. That performance was set up by a production company working with satirist "He's a very manipulative individual and to claim that he was innocent Mr. Fuccillo was 64 years old who died at his home in Florida. Warden." Every one ofthose countries which have ended their "danse macabre" with capital punishment now experience far less violence and fewer murders than does the U.S. The rhetoric between the two sides heated up again this week, as it does whenever the state passes a death penalty milestone or carries out a particularly controversial execution. filming an 'anti-Bush' commercial aimed at impeding Gov. Mark, justice has Witnesses said that prior to Hughes' execution, groups with opposing While in prison, Hughes earned two college degrees, developed a comic was 'true to his manipulative character.' The case was tried on a change of venue in Matagorda County, Texas, and Hughes entered a plea of "not guilty." I love you all and my family. He was a role model that anyone could aspire to emulate. While in Beaumont, he used Martin's credit card to check into the Castle Motel. There also were several people dressed as cheerleaders leading chants But, the prison staff and Billy, I think, knew this execution was going to happen that evening. "Do you wait 10 years to send a robber to prison?" Hamilton said he "couldn't speculate" on why the antics were disavowed by Billy Hughes Jr. played his role to a tee. Hughes claimed that, after he left the motel and was pulled over by Troopers Frederick and Reichert, the troopers opened fire on him without provocation, whereupon he fired a blind shot out the window. being he was. Later, I found out that this was the signal to the execution team located behind the one-way, glassed-in room across from us. "I'll be happy not to hear any more lies," she added. out lying like he did," she said, adding that she felt Hughes' statement On January 15, 1998, the federal district court denied Hughes's petition for writ of habeas corpus and vacated the previously issued stay of execution. His kindness continued to blunt my anger as I asked about how the medicine used in the execution is prescribed. But when six cheerleaders and a makeshift marching band came prancing around the corner belting out "When the Saints Come Marching In," it was clear that number 117 was not routine. The death penalty brings out the worst sentiments of society and does nothing for victims. On March 30, 1976, Hughes left Montgomery for Louisiana, where he used Martin's credit card for food, motels, and gasoline. Although we never even saw each other, there were two groups of witnesses: those asked by Billy and those asked by the immediate relatives of the victim. Death Records Search (Death Certificates & Indexes) - County Office Hughes will not take another life. They wanted answers: "Are you pro or against the death penalty?" Ronald Richardson, the supervisor of the firearms section in the DPS Scientific Crime Laboratory, tested the bullet that struck Trooper Frederick and established that it had been fired from the 9 millimeter handgun recovered from Hughes when he was captured. The troopers followed Hughes's car on Interstate 10 until it exited the highway. Family (1) Spouse Aida (? . Hughes then went to Atlanta, Chattanooga, and Nashville. issue." A petition for writ of certiorari is pending in the Supreme Court. A native born in Daytona Beach on February 11, 1975 to William and Kathy Hughes. They believe that overseeing (even through mission) the highest number of executions and amassing the most money in any presidential race in U.S. is so impressive to the rest of us that life as these self-styled compassionate conservatives know it will go on, relatively undisturbed and forever unchallenged -- Thank you, But, I began to see that he was dying as his body went limp and his eyes kept closing even though they never fully shut. Wearing blue jeans, a baseball cap and a windbreaker that looked a lot like the state flag, he fit right in. Hughes immediately sped away from the scene as Trooper Reichert fired six times at the fleeing vehicle. I treasure every moment that I have had. Date ofSentence Frederick was 26, and a husband and father when he was shot to death Approaching the Ford behind Frederick, Reichert heard a "muffled shot" and saw Frederick "lurch" to the side. A correctional officer wanted to know his request for his last meal. shouted a particularly rabid member of Justice for All. Texas," said a statement jointly released by groups for and against the Many believe that the underlying cause of Billie's death was persecution by men and the government. for the blind and even worked from his cell as a registered legislative lobbyist. Internet Sources: It wasn't so long ago that the institution of slavery along with maiming, stoning, burning at the stake, drawing and quartering, public flogging and a plethora of other "punishments" were held sacrosanct as "the law." In this issue I would like to remember all who have served this organization and given of their time and energy. Truth" denied any deception in filming the event. William F. "Toby" Hughes Jr. (USAF Retired) of Cibolo, Texas, passed away on Monday, January 18, 2021, at Lavaca Medical Center . of Criminal Appeals later ruled that a juror had been excluded improperly trying to portray those there to support the officer's family as drunken On the evening of April 4, 1976, Billy George Hughes checked into the Days Inn Motel in Brookshire (west of Houston), Texas, using a stolen credit card. and you all watch out for Mom and you all keep up, keep going. He was an actor, known for Shirley Temple's Storybook (1958), Smoke in the Wind (1975) and The Detectives (1959). The database also contains older death records for some parishes, such as deaths that occurred in Jefferson parish before 1911, and deaths that occurred in Orleans parish as early as . On September 10, 1997, Hughes filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus and a motion to stay his September 19, 1997, execution in federal district court. If there had been a baby, you can bet he would have kissed it. wearing a helmet. the officers shot at him, leading him to fire one shot which struck and His conviction was reversed in 1981 and he has since been serving a life sentence. This chaplain pointedly said, "the doctor is in the next room, not in the execution chamber. anti-death penalty personalities, including representatives of the Tears are often shed in the emotional catharsis of ritualized confrontation. Bill Hughes, former RJ photographer, dies at 65 Needless to say, the anti-death-penalty camp was a little sadder than normal to see a "reformed" man die. It doesn't have to be. Generally, they peacefully coexist like this until the witnesses emerge from the execution, indicating that everyone can go home. Tears are often shed in the emotional catharsis of ritualized confrontation. Info: Wenban Funeral Home (847) 234-0022 or www.wenbanfh.com Published by Chicago Tribune from Sep. 24 to. Rounds finally stated that Hughes' criminal acts escalated during the time she knew him and that she felt Hughes would continue to commit violent criminal acts. As the 40th anniversary of Billy Collins Jr vs Luis Resto approaches next year, WBN remembers the devastating events. A witness to another execution had said this to me. A search of the car revealed the following items: one holster for an automatic handgun on the front seat, one holster for a revolver in the glove compartment, and the following items in the trunk of the car: a fully loaded .30 caliber carbine; a loaded, sawed-off short barrel twelve-gauge shotgun; a .300 Magnum rifle; extra .38 caliber shotgun ammunition; and a Halloween mask. He was preceded in death by his youngest son, Parker Hughes, who died in 1998 at the . outside the Huntsville "Walls" Unit for the Monday night execution of He was previously married to Aida. death penalty supporters seemed to join the stunt before realizing it was for the blind and even worked from his cell as a registered legislative They have the routine down pat: There were seven executions in just over two weeks last month; there have been 119 since George W. took office. Billy Holiday passed away on 17th July 1959 due to complications caused by cirrhosis of the liver. Protest signs are waved. Hughes' bid for help on Monday. Billy George Hughes Jr. - one was a group of more than 20 uniformed Texas "This is what our show is, dark satire. The Bushes and the Buckleys and folks like them ignore the obvious. The execution was scheduled for 6 PM. These can include Miami-Dade County death certificates, local and Florida State death registries, and the National Death Index. In a prepared statement, Teer said her family finally will be able to go Who would have thought it would have taken 24 It is that the persons actually being executed are those who will have the greatest influence on finally banishing the death penalty from our society. The next day, Hughes bought a suit, a pair of boots, a cane, a shotgun, and some shells with another stolen check. It was a moment neither could have predicted - a committed Texas death Frederick on Interstate 10 in Sealy as Frederick walked toward Hughes' Billy Hughes #556 was executed January 24th in Huntsville. Hughes returned to Nashville, Tennessee, where his car was broken into and two .45's were stolen. killed Frederick. deathrow.at "Do you wait 10 years to send a robber to prison?" Next year will be the 10th anniversary of the LHP. No one recognized Martel or his gonzo journalism as trademarks of Michael Moore's popular, populist and political television show, The Awful Truth. The Court of Criminal Appeals denied Hughes's request for relief on February 26, 1997. American Actor Billy E. Hughes was born Billy Eugene Hughes on 28th November, 1948 in Los Angeles, California, USA and passed away on 20th Dec 2005 Alma, Arkansas, USA aged 57. Although younger than me by a few years, Billy was an "old timer" on death row when I arrived there in 1978. In his testimony at trial, Hughes related the details of a lengthy crime spree that ended with the capital murder of Trooper Mark Frederick. Frederick, 26, had been a trooper for 5 years when he stopped Hughes' Victim(s)(Race/Sex/Age at Murder) June 28, 2000 / 4:39 PM / CBS. Both Rounds and Hughes were members of the Jehovah's Witnesses until Hughes was expelled from the group for incessant lying and bad-check writing. Perform a free public death records search, including death certificates, death indexes, deceased records, death registers & registries, obituaries, and death notices. With nearly a . They grinned, cheered and waved their foam fingers. The implications are obvious. His first film was Ole Rex in 1961, which was produced by his father. The case was tried on a change of venue in Matagorda County, Texas, and Hughes entered a plea of "not guilty." David Atwood, president of the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, and Dudley Sharp, vice president of Justice for All, both visibly pissed off, yelled at each other at almost exactly the same time, "Did you do this?"