Man Convicted in Killing of College Student Is Executed in Texas

A condemned inmate is led out of his east block cell on death row at San Quentin State Prison, in San Quentin, Calif., on March 13, 2019. Eric Risberg/AP

A Texas man with a history of violence against women was put to death on the night of Aug. 21 for the rape, murder, and abduction of a college student in 1998.

Larry Swearingen, 48, who claimed innocence, died via lethal injection at the state penitentiary in Huntsville for the December 1998 killing of 19-year-old Melissa Trotter, The Associated Press reported.

Swearingen was pronounced dead at 6:47 p.m., and AP reported that his last words were: “Lord forgive them. They don’t know what they are doing.”

As the lethal dose of pentobarbital started, the inmate said he could “hear it” going into a vein in his arm. Then, he said he could taste it.

“It’s actually burning in my right arm. I don’t feel anything in the left arm,” he said, CBS News reported.

He was sentenced to death 19 years ago, but Swearingen repeatedly challenged his conviction and sentence over the years.

“Today the State of Texas murdered an innocent man. Sadly, so many people have suffered from all this. Melissa’s family and friends were denied the opportunity for closure. My family was torn apart,” a statement from his lawyers said, CNN reported. “I want everyone to know I’m not angry about my execution. Sure I would’ve liked to live and go free. But I feel certain that my death can be a catalyst to change the insane legal system of Texas which could allow this to happen. I am now one of God’s sacrificial lambs, and hopefully people will use my example to help keep others from experiencing this dreadful and wrongful persecution.”

Meanwhile, the statement claimed he proved his “innocence beyond any shadow of a doubt.”

Family Speaks Out

Trotter’s family, however, said Swearingen got what he deserved in the murder of their loved one.

“Today, justice was served for Melissa,” her family said in a statement, CBS reported. “This process has been overwhelming. We want to praise God for getting us through this horrific ordeal. We feel we now can move forward and start the healing process.”

They added: “We want Melissa to be remembered as a happy, loving, kind spirit with a beautiful smile. We always knew justice would prevail for Melissa.”

Kelly Blackburn, a prosecutor for the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, said Swearingen’s expert testimonial didn’t “hold water.”

“I have absolutely zero doubt that anybody but Larry Swearingen killed ... Melissa Trotter,” he said.

Blackburn said he killed Trotter because he was angry she didn’t go on a date with him. During her slaying, Swearingen had been indicted for kidnapping a former fiancee.

The execution chamber at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution is shown as Security Institution Warden Randy Blades look on in Boise, Idaho, in a file photo. Jessie L. Bonner/AP Photo, File

Meanwhile, Trotter’s mother told the Houston Chronicle that she is convinced of his guilt in the case.

“The overwhelming evidence is not just a coincidence,” Sandy Trotter said. “There was a trial; he was found guilty, and they agreed on a sentence.”