New execution date set in 1984 murder
Kunkle convicted of killing Steven Horton
By Sara Lee Fernandez Caller-Times
October 8, 2004
A San Antonio man whose execution was stayed hours before he was scheduled to be put to death now faces a new date with death for the 1984 murder of a Corpus Christi man.
Troy Kunkle, who has been on death row for 19 years, is scheduled to be executed on Nov. 18 for the murder of Steven W. Horton, 30, a father of two.

The U.S. Supreme Court lifted his stay on Monday, KRIS 6 News reported.
Assistant District Attorney Mark Skurka said the district attorney's office was notified earlier this week about the Supreme Court's decision. Skurka said barring extraordinary circumstances, the execution date will stand. All appeals have been exhausted, he said.
The stay was granted in July, the day of Kunkle's first scheduled execution. The high court said it needed more time to consider a writ filed by Kunkle's lawyers. The stay was based on a Supreme Court decision that said Texas courts have been applying an unconstitutional standard that did not allow juries to consider mitigating circumstances, such as mental illness, during capital murder trials.
Kunkle's attorneys did not return phone calls Thursday, but in a previous interview, attorney Dana Recer said jurors were not given a chance to understand the troubled background of her client who was 18 at the time. She said in July that his parents were both medicated for depression and that he was abused. She also said Kunkle was diagnosed with mental illness since his conviction.
Trial testimony showed that Horton's father, Nolan Horton, testified that his son had gone for a walk about 10:30 p.m. on Aug. 12, 1984, and a short time later police were notified by a passing motorist that his body was lying on a dirt road off the 1600 block of Paul Jones Avenue. Kunkle was one of four people tried in Horton's murder.
According to court testimony, Horton was lured into a car where he was shot in the back of the head, thrown from the car and his wallet stolen. There was $13 in the wallet, which later was found on the grounds of Naval Air Station Corpus Christi.
Horton's family was not available for comment Thursday.

Troys wonderful wife is a member here and I know this is awful for her. I hope she knows that she is in our thoughts and prayers along with Troy.

softie

Troys wonderful wife is a member here and I know this is awful for her. I hope she knows that she is in our thoughts and prayers along with Troy.

softie

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH ME !

Christa

Honey you know you and Troy are always in my prayers and thoughts. You know there isn't anything I wouldn't do to take the pain away.

((((((((((((((((Christa))))))))))

Honey you know you and Troy are always in my prayers and thoughts. You know there isn't anything I wouldn't do to take the pain away.

((((((((((((((((Christa))))))))))

Yes, I know and I thank you very much! The US Supreme Court liftet his stay on Monday 4th, 2004.

Christa

Christa, you and Troy are both in my thoughts and prayers.
((hugs)).
You know, try as I might, I can see no benefit in executing a man 20 years after the event. I mean, I am NOT the same person I was 20 years ago, and I doubt Troy is either. To be frank, the world will be no better off and I doubt Texan's will feel safer in their beds once an execution is carried out.
Grrr!, this makes me so sick. How can a state execute it's own citizens?
No more death penalty!

It breaks my heart !!!!:cry:

Christa my prayers and thoughts are with you and your hubby and your families.

This is such a pity, and such a waste of life. All this does is create more pain and heartache for a lot of people. I am blessed to live in a place that does not practice this babrbaric method of punishment. Troy and his wife and in my thoughts. Stay strong.

Christa, you and your husband are in my thoughts and prayers.

I am so very sorry to hear of this. Christa my heart goes out to you and Troy and your families. God grant you strength and peace in this very difficult time.

The fairy tale of sad sadness
It was a little lady that walked along the dirt road. She was pretty old but her walk was very youthful and her smile had the fresh glow of a young carefree girl. She stopped right before the crouched down figure and looked down. She couldnt make out much. The creature that was laying in the dusty road almost seemed nearly bodyless. It reminded her of a grey flanell blanket with human outlines. The little lady bend down a little and asked: „Who are you?“ Two nearly liveless eyes looked up. „Me? I am sadness“, whispered the voice that was barely to be heard. „Oh, sadness!“ the small woman called out happily, as if she would great an old friend. „You know me?“ sadness asked suspicious. „Of course I know you! You accompanied me through out my life.“ „Yes, but....“ wonders sadness, „ how come you are not running away from me? Arent you afraid?“ „Why should I run away from you, my dear? You know to well that you catch anybody that is trying to run away from you.But what I was going to ask you: Why do you look so discouraged ?“ – „ Me...I am sad“ answered the grey figure with a fragile voice. The little old lady set down next to her. „So, you are sad“ she said and nodded her head. „Tell me what is bothering you“. Sadness sight deeply. Should there be someone really listening this time ? How often did she wish for that. „You know“, she began hesitantly and extremely surprised, „ it is because nobody likes me.It is my destiny to be among humans and stay with them for a certain time. But when I come to them, they are frightened. They are afraid of me and avoid me like the plague.“ Sadness swallowed heavily. „They invented sentences, with which they want to avoid me. They say: Nonsense, life is great.And their false laughter leads to stomach pains and difficulty in breathing. They say: Praise what makes you tougher. And they get heart pain. They say: Just pull yourself together. And they feel a tearing in shoulders and back. They say: Only the weak cries.And they are holding back tears they accumulated. Or they numb themselves with drugs and alcohol.“ – „ Oh, yes“ agreed the old lady „I have met many people just like that.“ Sadness drops her head as her sadness deepens.“And all I want to do is help people. If I am completeley close to them, they can see themselves. I help them build a nest in order to care for their wounds. Who who is sad has a very thin skin. Some pain breaks out like a badly healed wound and that hurts. But only the ones who mourn and cry all the tears can really heal their wounds. But humans do not want my help. Instead they put on a fake smile to cover their scars. They become very bitter.“ Sadness is silent. Her crying was first weak, then stronger and finally she was in total dispair. The little old lady put her arms around the sunken trembling creature. How soft and gentle she is, the little old lady thought, and stroked her tenderly. „It is ok to cry“ she whispered „rest so you can collect all your strength. You are not to walk alone from now on. I will accompany you. Do not let faint heartedness win.“ Sadness stopped crying. She looked at her new companion with surprise. „But... but – who are you?“ –„Me?“ the small old lady replied. And she smiled like a carefree little girl. „ I am Hope“.

Love and Hugs from killing Texas - and Thank you for being with me in your thoughts and prayers!

Christa





New execution date set in 1984 murder
Kunkle convicted of killing Steven Horton
By Sara Lee Fernandez Caller-Times
October 8, 2004
A San Antonio man whose execution was stayed hours before he was scheduled to be put to death now faces a new date with death for the 1984 murder of a Corpus Christi man.
Troy Kunkle, who has been on death row for 19 years, is scheduled to be executed on Nov. 18 for the murder of Steven W. Horton, 30, a father of two.

The U.S. Supreme Court lifted his stay on Monday, KRIS 6 News reported.
Assistant District Attorney Mark Skurka said the district attorney's office was notified earlier this week about the Supreme Court's decision. Skurka said barring extraordinary circumstances, the execution date will stand. All appeals have been exhausted, he said.
The stay was granted in July, the day of Kunkle's first scheduled execution. The high court said it needed more time to consider a writ filed by Kunkle's lawyers. The stay was based on a Supreme Court decision that said Texas courts have been applying an unconstitutional standard that did not allow juries to consider mitigating circumstances, such as mental illness, during capital murder trials.
Kunkle's attorneys did not return phone calls Thursday, but in a previous interview, attorney Dana Recer said jurors were not given a chance to understand the troubled background of her client who was 18 at the time. She said in July that his parents were both medicated for depression and that he was abused. She also said Kunkle was diagnosed with mental illness since his conviction.
Trial testimony showed that Horton's father, Nolan Horton, testified that his son had gone for a walk about 10:30 p.m. on Aug. 12, 1984, and a short time later police were notified by a passing motorist that his body was lying on a dirt road off the 1600 block of Paul Jones Avenue. Kunkle was one of four people tried in Horton's murder.
According to court testimony, Horton was lured into a car where he was shot in the back of the head, thrown from the car and his wallet stolen. There was $13 in the wallet, which later was found on the grounds of Naval Air Station Corpus Christi.
Horton's family was not available for comment Thursday.

Christa,
That is so beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing with us in this harrowing time for you and Troy, but please keep that little old lady in sight, and ask Troy to do so too as we all will for you both.

Christa,
I've never been on this forum before, and it's breaks my soul just to imagine what you and your family are going through. I'm so sorry and so angry at our society that thinks this OK to do, yet tells others not to. You are all in my prayers.
Aria