A Texas man convicted of murdering a pastor was executed on February 6, 2025. Steven Lawayne Nelson, 37, faced lethal injection for the 2011 murder of Rev. Clint Dobson at NorthPointe Baptist Church in Arlington. Nelson’s final moments included a conversation with his wife and chilling last words directed at the warden.
- Texas man executed for murdering a pastor
- Victim Rev. Clint Dobson was suffocated
- Nelson's last words: "I'm not scared"
- Execution marked second in the US for 2025
- Three more Texas executions scheduled soon
Steven Lawayne Nelson was sentenced to death for killing Rev. Clint Dobson in a brutal attack involving beating and suffocation inside NorthPointe Baptist Church in Arlington in 2011. During his execution, Nelson spoke to his wife, Helena Noa Dubois, encouraging her to live fully as she held their service dog up to a glass partition separating them.
Before receiving the lethal injection, Nelson expressed peace with his situation by stating “I’m not scared. I’m at peace. Let’s ride, Warden.” After the injection of pentobarbital, he was seen mouthing “love” twice before convulsing briefly and being declared dead 24 minutes later.
This marks the second execution carried out in the united states in 2025; another execution occurred just days prior in South Carolina. Texas has three more executions scheduled before April ends this year.
The execution of Steven Lawayne Nelson highlights ongoing debates about capital punishment within the U.S., particularly concerning its application and moral implications following heinous crimes like that committed against Rev. Clint Dobson.
