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Coy Wayne Wesbrook

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Coy Wayne Wesbrook
Born(1958-02-01)February 1, 1958
Houston, Texas
DiedMarch 9, 2016(2016-03-09) (aged 58)
Huntsville Unit, Huntsville, Texas
Other namesElvis
Spouse
Gloria Jean Coons
​
​
(m. 1995; div. 1996)​
Criminal penaltyDeath
Details
DateNovember 13, 1997
Location(s)Channelview, Texas
Killed5
Weapons.30-06 hunting rifle

Coy Wayne "Elvis" Wesbrook (February 1, 1958 – March 9, 2016) was an American mass murderer, convicted for the killing of 5 people in Channelview, Texas on November 13, 1997. Wesbrook fatally shot his ex-wife Gloria Jean Coons, her female roommate, and three men during a party at Coons' home in an apparent fit of jealous rage.

Wesbrook was sentenced to death in 1998, and was executed by lethal injection in 2016.[1]

Murders

According to his testimony, Wesbrook went to visit his ex-wife, Gloria Jean Coons, at her home in Channelview, Texas, in the Greater Houston area. He was invited to a party at Coons' apartment along with other friends Diana Ruth Money, and three other males. Wesbrook had gone there with hopes of rebuilding the relationship with Coons, but went into a rage when the party's attendees began to mock him because Coons had cheated on him in the bedroom. At some point in the evening, Wesbrook noticed that his ex-wife and two of the men had slipped away, and when he went into the bedroom, he found Coons having sex with both of the men. While they were mocking him they were playing keepaway with his keys, tossing them back and forth to each other, preventing him from leaving. He was able to get his keys back and he left. A very short time later he returned in his truck and pulled out his .30-06 hunting rifle and returned to the residence, where he then fatally shot his ex-wife, all three of the males, and Money in the residence. At about 2 a.m., a neighbor heard the gunfire, grabbed their cell phone, went next door, saw the corpses, and called 911. Wesbrook was arrested at the scene, and it is unknown whether his testimony is accurate or not. [[There were 2 witnesses that called 911 (I am the material witness writing part of this account and editing incorrect info). . The first witness lived upstairs and heard Wesbrook kick open the door and fire off 2 shots. Knowing exactly what the sound was the neighbor called 911 and WHILE ON THE LINE WITH DISPATCH The dispatcher heard the other 3 shots ring out]][2] The victims were Coons, Antonio Cruz, Kelly Hazlip, Diana Ruth Money, and Anthony Rogers. [3][4][5]

Trial and conviction

The Ellis Unit housed the State of Texas death row for men until mid-1999.
Allan B. Polunsky Unit houses the State of Texas death row for men.
Huntsville Unit, where Wesbrook was put to death

In 1998, Wesbrook's trial began, and due to his low IQ the defense asked the jury to show mercy for Wesbrook. However, the prosecution said that Wesbrook had been fully aware that what he was doing was wrong and that made him fully responsible for his actions. The prosecution immediately sought the death penalty.[6] The jury found Wesbrook guilty and fully responsible for his actions and recommended the death sentence, and on September 2, 1998, Wesbrook was sentenced to death, being placed on death row the same day.[6][7] Wesbrook was initially located in the Ellis Unit, but was transferred to the Allan B. Polunsky Unit (formerly the Terrell Unit) in 1999.[8]

Despite his low IQ and the disputed testimony of Dr. George Denkowski, Wesbrook was not granted another trial.[9][10] On March 9, 2016, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals rejected a last-minute appeal that had been filed because of concerns over Wesbrook's possible mental impairment.[11] Wesbrook was executed by lethal injection that evening, and was pronounced dead at 8:04 PM.[12][13]

See also

References

  1. ^ Grisson, Brandi (2 April 2012). "Appeals Court Orders Re-evaluation of Death Row Case". Texas Tribune. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  2. ^ After 17 years on Texas’ death row, a man who murdered his ex-wife is ‘looking forward’ to execution
  3. ^ "Coy Wesbrook, convicted killer of five executed ." KHOU. March 9, 2016. Retrieved on March 9, 2017.
  4. ^ National Post report confirms full name as Diana Ruth Money
  5. ^ Daily Wail report ditto
  6. ^ a b "Texas Execution Information Center". Texas Execution Information Center News. Texas Execution Information Center News. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
  7. ^ "Wesbrook, Coy Wayne." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on February 12, 2016.
  8. ^ "Death Row Facts." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on February 4, 2016.
  9. ^ "Killer of 5 Gets Another Shot to Dodge Death". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  10. ^ "Appeals Court Orders Re-evaluation of Death Row Case". Texas Tribune. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  11. ^ "Latest: Texas man executed for 1997 rampage that killed 5". ABC News. March 9, 2016. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  12. ^ Reece, Kevin. "Coy Wesbrook, convicted killer of five executed ." KHOU-TV. March 9, 2013. Retrieved on March 9, 2016.
  13. ^ DPIC. "Upcoming Executions". Death Penalty Information Center. Retrieved March 5, 2016.

Legal documents:

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