A Texas man convicted of killing a pastor during a robbery was executed on February 6, 2025. Steven Lawayne Nelson, 37, received a lethal injection at a state penitentiary in Huntsville after being sentenced to death for the 2011 murder of Rev. Clint Dobson.
- Texas man executed for killing pastor
- Steven Lawayne Nelson's final words shared
- Victim's family focused on positive memories
- Nelson claimed he was a robbery lookout
- Execution marks second in the U.S. this year
- Legal representation issues raised during appeals
During his final moments, Nelson expressed love and gratitude to his wife before he was pronounced dead at 6:50 p.m. local time.
Nelson’s execution followed a lengthy legal process stemming from the brutal murder of Rev. Clint Dobson inside NorthPointe Baptist Church. On the day of the crime, Dobson was attacked while writing a sermon; he was beaten and suffocated with a plastic bag. Nelson claimed he acted only as a lookout during the robbery and blamed two accomplices for the actual killing.
The details surrounding this case are grim. Key facts include:
- Nelson killed Dobson on March 29, 2011.
- He had been released from an anger management program just days prior to the murder.
- Nelson used stolen credit cards belonging to victims shortly after the crime.
After his arrest, law enforcement found that Nelson had gone on a shopping spree using credit cards taken from Dobson and church secretary Judy Elliott. The victims were discovered by Elliott’s husband later that day when he returned home and found them severely beaten in the church office.
The execution marks significant closure for the victims’ families who have expressed their desire to remember their loved ones rather than focus on Nelson’s actions. His case has also raised discussions about legal representation and mental health interventions within the criminal justice system.
This execution reflects ongoing debates regarding capital punishment in America as well as its implications for justice systems across different regions.
