John William King is escorted into the Jasper County Courthouse for his murder trial in Texas on Feb. 24, 1999.Get breaking news alerts and special reports. The news and stories that matter, delivered weekday mornings.HUNTSVILLE, Texas — A man who orchestrated one of the most gruesome hate crimes in U.S. history was set to be executed Wednesday for the dragging death of James Byrd Jr. nearly 21 years ago.
The hate crime put a national spotlight on Jasper, a town of about 7,600 residents near the Texas-Louisiana border that was branded with a racist stigma it has tried to shake off ever since. Local officials say the reputation is undeserved. Over the years, King has also suggested the brutal slaying was not a hate crime, but a drug deal gone bad involving his co-defendants.
In a 2001 interview with the AP, King said he was an"avowed racist" but wasn't"a hate-monger murderer." Harris said she doesn't expect King to be remorseful. Brewer said nothing to Byrd's family before he was put to death. "He played us like a fiddle, getting us to go over there and thinking we're going to get the rest of the story," said Rowles, now the sheriff of neighboring Newton County.
Yesterday he had that tough guy look; Today he's dead. Too bad they couldn't kill him twice.
ubathediplomat My soror lost her daddy that day 😔 So much hate.
Can you make it, uh, only partially work? A la thegreenmile
Let him vote first!!!
PrestonWilson44 AS he should. Or just link his ass up behind a truck and drag him for 'I don't know, how wide is the state of Texas?'
If only the State would drag him down the same road with the same rope. I can’t even imagine this much hate and ignorance in one person.
It’s sick that it took this long for him to finally get the sentence that was passed and justice for the man he killed
That was horrible; may the Byrd family find peace
Someone else said, “I’m against the death penalty,but some bother me more than others.”
Why does it take 20 years to get to this point? Should have happened 18+ years ago.
the monster side of me would buy tickets to see this.
shweet.
Wait, you mean he's not Mexican Or Muslim Or an immigrant of any f****** kind? Trump says there are no white terrorists LMFAO fry and peace motherfuker realDonaldTrump
Off you go
I wish he could spend his life in jail
Men like King appeal their death sentence citing some law that was broken during trial. Racists abide by no law until a law can be used to their advantage. King will not be missed.
Y'all should have been did that he old probably ready to die by not anyway
Waiting for stay or pardon from trump in 3, 2, 1...,.
Okay,...see you on Thursday then...
Twenty.💉 One. 💉YEARS! 💉 🙈
May God have mercy on his soul ..
Shame it took all these years to get rid of this garbage. Hopefully will be using a pickup truck.
Good
The murderers of Matthew Shepherd should join him.
mafia2222001 Good, he deserves it.
Why tax payers have been paying for him to be in prison for 20 years? 20 years!
Goodbye 👋🏻
I am opposed to the death penalty because the individual MIGHT be innocent. In this case, though, any squeamishness I might otherwise feel is out-weighed by the heinous nature of the crime & the admission of guilt by the killer. I'll save my sympathy for someone who deserves it.
Absolutely heinous crime. Deserving of the worst punishment. Yet our society should not be putting people to death. It does not make anything better. This man should spend the rest of his life in a stark prison.
Good. He deserves it 20 years ago.
In cases like these I cannot help but feel justice despite my views on the death penalty.
Racist/White supremacist/Murderer voted off the planet. See ya! GoodRiddance WhichRacistMurdererWantsToBeNext
He deserves to be executed. 😁
Good.
Well there is one that WONT'T get to vote, right BernieSanders?
The mass murdering Muslim that committed that terror attack in Texas is due execution soon too
Should have been put down years ago.
If anyone deserves to be executed, those boys do. It was a vile, hateful thing they did.
Better idea, drag him behind a truck and take an eye for an eye. This guy is a waste of air.
Televise it!
Bye Felica
Is anybody taking bets on whether or not trump will pardon this guy?
So great to know we all paid to let this guy live for free for 11 goddamn years.
Did Bernie get him his absentee ballot in time?
We know. You keep posting this story all day
Horrible crime, but the death penalty is murder. State-sponsored murder is not okay.
And this why we need to death penalty.
LETS GO ALREADY
Bout time!!
He should have been killed 20 years ago.
Just punishment!
WHAT'S TAKING SO LONG!!
Bernie Sanders believes he should vote
Bye, boy.
He doesn't look racist.
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