Yesterday evening, Robert Alan Shields (30) was the 12th prisoner executed in Texas this year.
From the Houston Chronicle:
A Galveston County jury condemned him for the killing of Paula Stiner, 27, who had been repeatedly stabbed with a knife from her own kitchen and beaten with a hammer when she was found by her husband as he returned home from work Sept. 21, 1994.
And on what grounds would Shield’s defense lawyer use to postpone his execution for the last 11 years?
Appeals lawyers contended that Shields was trying to defend himself and never intended to kill Stiner, that the self-defense argument never was pursued by his attorneys at trial and that the U.S. Supreme Court should allow him another chance to prove his innocence.
Self-defense? Let’s see…after beating her with the hammer, he stabbed her 28 times. And, then stole her credit cards and her car? And self-defense is the best that his defense could come up with. Shields should have argued ineffective counsel—which is more believable in this case than “self-defense”.
***
Next on the schedule is Francis Newton, who is scheduled for execution on Sept 14 for shooting her husband, her 7-year old son, and her 21-month old daughter to death in 1988.
Why’d Francis kill her family? For the insurance money.
Francis will be the first woman executed in Texas this year, and the first since the execution of Betty Lou Beets on 02/24/2000, and only the second since Karla Faye Tucker was executed in 1998.
Francis is one of 9 women currently on death row in Texas.
His atty was arguing that his trial attys were ineffective in that they did not argue self defense therefore Shields did not have the requisite intent for first degree murder.
It assumes that Shields told his trial attys it was in self-defense. And if he did, it also assumes the trial attys didn’t make a tactical decision to not use it because they didn’t believe the jury would be swayed by such an argument and instead would be more likely to vote death. Appellate courts will not second guess tactical decisions by trial attys where on its face such a tactic, like here, wd be reasonable.
As to be expected, he lied and refused to take responsibility to the very end:
Ach! My link did not appear. LINK
Robert Shields invited the Governor to his execution:
The following is a copy of what Robert Shields, 999166, to Governor Rick Perry of Texas. Said letter was mailed to Governor Perry on or about August 15, 2005 via Certified Mail Article Number 7005 0390 0004 9461 8044.
My name is Robert Alan Shields Jr. and with this letter, I respectfully invite you to witness my execution, along with my family, set for August 23rd, 2005.
I think it is important that you see with your own eyes that this is lives and devastation, not just another political stepping stone.
Do you think you would have the same opinion of the situation after sitting down talking to me and being forced to see me as a person and not just another piece of paper being pushed across your desk?
I would ask that you be there to answer my loved ones questions. Explain to them why they too had to become victims.
It is time for you to have the courage of your convictions and stand there looking me in the eyes as those lethal drugs take my life.
August 10, 2005 by Robert Shields #999166
On August 10th 2005 the state of Texas murdered another man-Gary Sterling! Knowing the state as I do I am sure it was all very clean and efficient.
I was not in my cell to witness the Grey Suit grim reaper’s do there death march or have there hand shaking contest. I did see Gary leave the visitation room with his head held high and a smile on his face as the rest of the guy’s back there said there goodbye’s to him and passed along words of encouragement. May you rest in peace Gary Lynn Sterling.
Well folks I have less than ten days to go until my own state sanctioned murder. I have not heard any news but its not looking so good. Do you people see how insane it is to know the exact date an time of your own murder and sit patiently waiting for it. Its definitely playing with my mind. It will not be long before my blood too is greasing the wheels of Texas Death Machine. I’ll talk to you again soon.
Robert Shields
[address deleted, since Robert no longer lives at the Polunsky Unit]
source: [deleted because it's my Web site, and I'm not promoting your Web site for you)
“I think it is important that you see with your own eyes that this is lives and devastation, not just another political stepping stone,†Shields wrote.
The entire letter and other Shields writings are online at [deleted].
Oh, look, I’ve Never Met a Sadistic Murderer I Didn’t Love, posted here. She heads a creepy group that has created a memorial page to this scumbag. They want to post his “artwork.†They call him a “good man†and say “there is a place in heaven for him.â€
You are a real sicko. Seek help.
“I would ask that you be there to answer my loved ones questions. Explain to them why they too had to become victims.”
I’ll answer the questions for them: Yes, the Shields family is also a victim in this horrible crime. And yes they are losing a son, too. But they became victims when their son (brother, cousin, whatever) killed Paula Stiner. The execution of Robert is not the event that made them victims; it was having to live with the fact that someone of their own blood had it within them to savagely murder an innocent young woman. But if the Shields family is blaming Gov. Rick Perry, the State of Texas, or anybody other than Robert Shields for their victimization, then they’re insane and morally bankrupt.
“Do you people see how insane it is to know the exact date an time of your own murder and sit patiently waiting for it.”
You know what’s worse, *Robert? NOT knowing the exact date of your death…like 27-year old Paula Stiner. I’m sure she wasn’t expecting to be beaten with a hammer and then stabbed to death 28 times.
“Its definitely playing with my mind.”
Good. I hope you were terrified. I hope, even for one second, you feel the fear that your victim felt when you killed her.
“I think it is important that you see with your own eyes that this is lives and devastation, not just another political stepping stone.
You are right about this one thing Robert—that “this” (your brutal crime and your execution) is lives and devestation. Except it’s not about your life and the devestation that you have brought upon yourself. It is about the lives of Paula Stiner and her family. And the horrible devestation that your visited upon her family. It’s a testament to your black soul that you can’t see “that”.
*This is a rhetorical question, obviously, as Robert has finally been executed by the state of Texas for the brutal murder of 27-year old Paula Stiner. May her soul finally rest in peace. And may Stiner’s rot where ever the black souls of the soulless are cast.
For all of you who only believe what you read on the internet:
I knew Robert. Very well in fact. I am not a prison groupie. I don’t have other pen pals in prison. I have known Robert for more than half of my life. I will tell you that you should never judge someone by only what you read about them. Robert was a good person and still is. As far as I believe, he didn’t murder Paula Stiner. The only evidence that the prosecution had against him put him at the scene but did not put the knife or the hammer in his hand.
Do you realize that all of the hatred that you are showing only proves that you are vindictive and have a murderous mind? So what makes you any different than someone who actually acts on it?
***But if the Shields family is blaming Gov. Rick Perry, the State of Texas, or anybody other than Robert Shields for their victimization, then they’re insane and morally bankrupt.****
Does it make you feel like a big strong person to talk about greiving people this way?
***Good. I hope you were terrified. I hope, even for one second, you feel the fear that your victim felt when you killed her.***
I am very proud to say that Robert was calm and at peace with himself and all of the people who accused him of doing something that he did not do.
You know, I really doubt that the Stiner family has any closure now. If it takes the loss of another person to give them closure then they obviously did hold the life of Paula very dear. Reguardless of what anybody thinks, Both of these people had lives and neither one of them wanted the other to die.
I know that you are going to retaliate with your political nonsense and all of the news stories that you have saved on your harddrive somewhere. SAVE IT!!! I have read them all. There is absolutely nothing that you can say to ever make me believe that Robert was a murderer or that he was a bad person. I pray that all of you stop judging people. I pray that one day the world will see the truth as I already have.
As opposed to you who only believes what a convicted sociopath and murder tells you?
You *are* a prison groupie. If you have known him more than half your life, you’ve been writing him since you were 10 years old. That is sick and irresponsible of your parents.
And you are an idiot. IDIOT. Shields argued that he killed her in self-defense. Understand now? He argued that the killing was justified because it was in self-defense because she had the audacity to return to her home. Jeesh! Can you antis be anymore stupid? And there was absolutely no evidence of a second intruder. None. Nada. Zilch.
And don’t lecture others about hatred and having a “murderous mind.†Your sick pal was the murderer. He didn’t’ have to murder her. He could have run out the damn door. But he wanted her car. He murdered this young woman for her car! You do not value life at all if you defend this creep over Paula Stiner.
Statements like this and your entire post are so incredibly stupid I don’t know where to begin. Take your post to a therapist. Show it to him/her. See if you walk out without a prescription.
Wrong, as always, he was the sniveling lying coward.
As if you could ever speak for the family of a murder victim! You antis can never have the decency to refrain from attacking the family of victims.
Clue: If you don’t want to die, you don’t commit capital murder in Texas.
Not even his own admission in his writ that he stabbed her 27 times in self-defense? Yeah, I know it, I think it’s bullsh*t, too. But, that was what your psycho pal was claiming was the *truth.*
When they stop committing crimes, we’ll stop judging.
I pray that you get psych help.
Robbie: Thank you for removing that information from that one post. I almost said something, but since it is not my website, I didn’t think it was my place to suggest it. So, again, thank you thank you thank you.
Why are you so angry? I think you are the one who needs the psychiatric help. Maybe try anger management classes. I can’t help but laugh at how naive and blind you are.
I know that Robert would have a good laugh at your comments so I will too. Have you checked out his interview in the Christian Network Journal? I guess not….you would have to be a christian to subscribe to a magazine like that wouldn’t you. Obviously you are far from being a christian because christians don’t think the way you do. Get some help…you really need it.
go ahead and delete it…i will only put it on again. Even if one person sees it….that is good enough for me.
I guess nobody really gives a shit about your dead murderer if you have to resort to spamming! lol! Hmm. Maybe I’ll post the email address of the dead psycho killer’s family on some of the more anti-murderer websites. Even if one person sends them an email, and it will be a doozy, that is good enough for me. And, they’ll be sure to let them know that they have you to thank for it.
Hilarious! Again, thank you.
I like your persistent attitude. I do believe that you have some hidden issues that you need to deal with. Are you a Stiner by chance?
I believed Robert Shields needed to be in jail. At one time I even believe he needed to die. Until I started reading about his case and reading about the evidence they had on him. It got me thinking and I started questioning the case and trial myself. I met Robert a few times when he was around 17-18 and didn’t see him again until they posted his picture on the tv the night he was arested. I followed the trial and really started digging when he recieved his death date.
I read one post that claims that Robert did not kill Paula Stiner. Well here is the part you will like. I could not find anything that said Robert’s fingerprints were on the hammer nor did I find anything that said they found the murder weapon. So the question I pose to you is, if they can put him in the house but not commiting the murder is he guilty? They also claim that Robert had a violent past—this is not true; he had been in trouble with the law but over theft and stolen merchandise. Now does this sound like a violent crime to you? They claimed that Robert would be a future threat. How is this possible when he had no history of violence.
Asking whether I am related to the victim as if that would diminish the verifiable facts of the case is idiotic. Are you an anti-dp whacko by chance? Hate women maybe? Think they should be attacked in their own homes and stabbed repeatedly? I believe those are your hidden issues that you need to deal with, jerk.
They proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Shields committed the murder. It’s disingenuous of you to ask me to pretend that he did not. For you to state that he did not have a violent past indicates that contrary to your claims, you know little about the case or Shields. Unless you don’t consider sticking guns in people’s faces and shooting blindly in a residential neighborhood violent. Thankfully the courts and the jury disagree with you. Furthermore, the claim of a future threat goes to the penalty. So, the fact that he was found guilty of bludgeoning Mrs. Stiner on the head with a hammer and then stabbed her over 27 times, sounds damn violent to me. Combine all that and his diagnosis as a sociopath convinced the jury of his future violence.
Try not to physically hurt any people, o’kay?
Hey, genius, Shields admitted to killing her! He claimed he had to beat her with a hammer and then stab her 28 times in self-defense (that was his defense, in case you have forgotten)…but he doesn’t deny that he is the one who killed her.
Which anti-DP whacko site did you read that post on, stating that Robert didn’t kill Stiner? You might want to reconsider where you get your dis-information in the future.
Hey Robbie the idiot,
How do you know that your information isn’t wrong. Oh I forgot….you were there right. Makes me question, if you know so much about Robert Shields, how do we know you didn’t do it yourself. You do live in Texas right? Maybe you drove to friendswood and beat Mrs. Stiner with a hammer. We don’t know that. The fact is that the only person who knows what happened in that house is the man upstairs. I don’t think Robert did it. I know him and I know he is not capable of that. I knew him before this happened. He was not a violent person back then and he wasn’t a violent person the day he died. He himself was a victim of this horrible crime. Reguardless of what you say, think, or feel…..that is the truth.
Hey genius…how do we know that Robert killed her? HE ADMITTED IT. He doesn’t deny killing her. His claims of “innocence” were based on a self-defense plea.
He admitted, yeah…I stabbed her 28 times after I beat her with the hammer. But it was in self-defense…
Hmmm…but if you *know* that Robert didn’t actually do the things that he himself admitted to…maybe it’s because he’s covering up for the someone else. Maybe there was someone else in the house with him. Someone who knew him…damn, maybe it was you??!?!?!?!
People who knew Ted Bundy thought he was a helluva guy, too.
You are right….. I *know* Robert didn’t do it. He admitted that in the Christian Network Journal. So tell me….do you believe everything you read? If so….why don’t you believe what the CNJ said? Maybe it’s because you live in Robbie’s world of you think you are always right and can’t handle the idea of the fact that you just might be wrong in this case. Wake up and smell the coffee. It’s funny because in some of your other blogs you SEEM so educated. How wrong I was about you.
Hmm, why is the story he told CNJ unbelievable?
Because it’s not.
There was absolutely no evidence of a second person being in the house.
He was found with all the stolen property.
He was drenched in Mrs. Stiner’s Blood.
Shields initially argued self-defense. It didn’t work.
Then he switched to he was there but didn’t kill her. It didn’t work, either.
I guess she stabbed herself 28 times, huh? (and I bet you’re stupid enough to believe that, too.)
I’m sure you will find a new murderer to latch on to.
Actually if you had even half a brain then you would know by reading the correct material put out that there were not only one other set of fingerprints in the house…there were five sets. Yes that is right…I said Five. No, this isn’t what he told me. This is what I know. I happent to be friends with an officer in Friendswood who was there during the investigation. He was not drenched in blood. He had a couple of spots of blood on his underwear which wasn’t even hers. It was his. Yes he did have stolen property but that makes him a thief not a murderer. He even stated in the CNJ that he was there but DID NOT commit the murder. The reason he pled not guilty in the beginning (from what I was TOLD by an officer) is because he literally did not remember what had happened. He just knew that it was possible for him to do such a thing. And just so you know…I am not some DR groupie. I am a full believer and supporter of the Death Penalty. I’m just not naive (like you) enough to actually believe that every single person behind bars is guilty. You act like our justice system NEVER makes mistakes. You must be from Austin like Robbie. All of you Political Assholes need to stay over there away from all the descent people of this great state. I think the system was in the right by arresting him and making him do time but he should not have paid with his life when he didn’t even kill her. I really doubt that the Stiner family feels all better now. If they do ….then that is truly sick.
In response to Shileds friend:
I knew Paula when I was a little girl. She treated me as her own daughter as she had no children. I loved her dearly and her brutal murder was the first death I ever had to deal with and this was a death that your friend, Robert Shields, could have stopped. He robbed me of my innocnece to the world around me and showed me that there are heinous, vicious people out there. Why should we have saved his life? Did he ask Paula if she would like to live that day? She had so much more life to live and I know, just by time with her, that she would have been the most amazing mother.
and pro say the death penalty isn’t about vengence? hmmmm
A half a year later and the you are still going on and on about this brutal killer. Guess what? He’s still guilty and he’s still dead.
I went to high school with Paula (Ross) Stiner. She was a kind person with a pretty smile and a gentle disposition. She did absolutely nothing to deserve what , according to his own words, Shields did to her.
I’ve read some websites against the death penalty saying that the millions spent on capital punishment could be spent on schools, etc. What about the costs of feeding and housing these savages? What about medical care, and the constant frivolous lawsuits brought by these criminals? Don’t get me started on dollar figures!
Am I losing any sleep for Robert Shields? No, because I know that if he found religion and repented, he’s in Heaven. If he didn’t, then he’s burning in Hell right now. I don’t lose any sleep for Paula, either. She’s in a better place right now, and I couldn’t wish more for her. I do feel bad for her family, and even a little bit for Robert’s family, as both have to suffer for this fiend’s crimes.
I would be willing to bet that all of the people that are so concerned about this guy’s well-being are some of the same people that don’t bat an eye over abortions. Better to kill innocents than brutal killers, I guess.