Search
Home  |   About  |   Q & A  |   Archives  |   Credits  |   Contact  |  
« 6th St. to Bourbon St.
The 2005 Emmy Awards »

Michael Lynn Riley Scheduled for Execution

19 years after he murdered 23 year-old store clerk

Michael Lynn Riley, is the next Texas Death Row inmate scheduled for execution on Sept. 22.

Riley, who has been on death row since November of 1986, is going to be executed for the 1986 murder of 23-year old Wynona Lynn Harris, the clerk at the convenience store that Riley robbed. Riley stabbed Harris 31  times before she died.

Riley was a career criminal who should have been in prison the night he killed Harris. He initially served 2 years in prison in 1977 for burglary and larceny. His second conviction came two years after getting out of prison—again for burglary. He was sentenced to 9 years, but paroled after 3 years. If he had served his full prison term, he would still have been in prison on the night he murdered Harris. Insanely, one of Riley’s attorneys argued that they didn’t think Riley constituted a further threat to society—despite Riley having been nothing but a threat most of his adult life.

How on Earth did it take 19 years to carry out this man’s execution?

His execution has been held up over the years because of the numerous appeals based on Riley’s supposed low IQ. Not over his presumption of innocence — nobody, not even Riley himself, denies that he brutally stabbed Harris to death.

The National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (NCADP) argues that, “The execution of someone with borderline mental retardation is a profound human rights violation.”

I would counter that stabbing a young, innocent woman 31 times until she is dead is a much more egregious human rights violation. And for violating that right of Ms. Harris, he deserves to die.

On Sept 22, justice will finally be served.

Posted by Robbie Cooper on Saturday, September 17th, 2005 | Trackback |

11 Responses to “Michael Lynn Riley Scheduled for Execution”

On Sept 22, justice will finally be served.

Not quite. He was granted another stay.

http://www.oag.state.tx.us/oagnews/release.php?id=1160

Left by 2 on September 19th, 2005 at 3:58 am

Fuck. Michael Riley has had 19 years to prove his “mental retardation” —meanwhile, nobody is denying the fact that he murdered somebody.

I don’t doubt the man has a decreased mental ability — but not enough so that he didn’t know right-from-wrong the night he robbed and murdered. And for that, the man should be executed.

Left by Robbie on September 19th, 2005 at 7:53 am

Yeah. They’ll have hearings, take testimony, his Atkins claim will be denied, he’ll appeal, then he’ll take a writ, etc. Ultimately, he will be excuted. But, so much for the Texas rush to execute. Ha!

Left by 2 on September 19th, 2005 at 1:10 pm

I do not know where you guys are, but I am assuming somewhere local to where this happened. It disgusts me to see him get a stay. I grew up with her beautiful daughters and watched an aunt step in for womanly guidance. This country was based on strong Christian values (at one time they were taken seriously) so, in the Bible, an eye for an eye. What happened. I have noticed, criminal commit these crimes, then do not want the punishment to go along with it. We are violating their rights?!?! What rights should they be given. They atleast see that they are going to be put to death. Mrs. Harris had no idea when she went into work that this would happen to her. He has 19 years to prepare for this.

Left by Anonymous on September 26th, 2005 at 12:02 pm

The anti-death penalty folks like to claim the death penalty is arbitrary. However, the only arbitrariness I see or care about is: “Mrs. Harris had no idea when she went into work that this would happen to her.”

Left by 2 on September 26th, 2005 at 7:13 pm

Regardless, Michael Riley should be put to death. I have always thought this. For her daughters to see him take their mothers life, then his gets saved is crazy.

Left by Anonymous on September 27th, 2005 at 10:26 am

I am very torn down the middle when it comes to the death penalty. On one hand, I have a family member who was a victim of murder but on the other hand, I had a very close friend who was executed on death row. For many years, I was never really sure whether or not my friend actually commited the crime he was accused of. I never wanted to believe that he did. A large part of me still believes that he was innocent and a terrible mistake was made. I hated to see him die, especially if it was because of a jury that was given only some of the evidence however, I do feel that if in fact he did commit this crime then justice was served. The man who killed my cousin by beating her to death in front of her five year old daughter then sexually assaulting the little girl before leaving her to wander around a housing area alone at night only got a life sentence. I always wondered, why do some murderers get the death penalty and others don’t. What makes one murderer more special than the other? Can you see why I am so confused about my opinion when it comes to the death penalty? I guess, I would have to say that I believe in it because if anyone ever hurt my baby….I would definitely want them dead.

Left by houstongal on September 28th, 2005 at 11:31 am

First, I would like to say that I am terribly sorry about what happened to your cousin and to her little girl.

If you are truly curious about your friend’s guilt, you could find and read the court opinions, writs, and possibly the briefs prepared by looking on the internet or at a law library near you.

Evidence is kept out when it is untrustworthy and/or irrelevant and when it is introduced so late post conviction it is obviously a ploy. Evidence is also kept out when it is more prejudicial to the defendant then probative.

The reason why some murderers get the dp and other don’t, depends on whether the jurisdiction had the dp at the time of the offense. Remember, there was a period of time when the USSC overturned the dp and the states had to individually reinstate it and not all did. Any murder committed then would not be death eligible. Also, a capital case is one which involves first degree murder and a “special circumstance.” The special circumstances are enumerated in the penal code of each state and differ slightly. Another factor in the decision to charge the dp, is whether there are any problems of proof.

Left by 2 on September 28th, 2005 at 5:42 pm

There is no way that Riley should live… My grandmother was the manager of the store Mrs. Harris worked at… and my best friend’s mother was just a teenager when this happened… Mr. Riley came into the a different store after killing Mrs. Harris and changed clothes and returned to the scene… just like any killer, right? After Mr. Riley had changed clothes in his store of choice, the mother of my best friend was getting the store ready to close for the night… she went to the bathroom to make sure things were as they should be and there she found the evidence of Mr. Riley’s unethical, immoral, disgusting act… blood everywhere… on the floor, the walls, and the sink… When Mrs. Harris was murdered, my dad and his family were left to clean up the remains… It would heal my heart along with the majority of the town, to see Mr. Riley be put to death… there is no reason for him to live… even if he is mentally retarded?! I want to know who keeps putting this off?? I see NO REASON, what-so-ever for this scum to live… harsh, yes… but what he did should NOT stand… by letting this man live, it is simply “allowing” things like this to happen… “an eye for an eye…” Riley should NOT live!

Left by Unhappy on January 13th, 2006 at 1:33 pm

The part of the faimly that know well would like to see this ended and soon

Left by Anonymous on February 13th, 2007 at 1:00 pm

I am one of Nonie’s sisters. My husband stumbled across this blog and called my attention to it. I can’t even begin to tell you the heartache and frustration our family has been through these last 21 years. I just wanted to say thank you all for your support. Please pray that the stall tactics are finally over now and that justice for Nonie can finally be served. We can’t take much more.

Left by NoniesSister on February 13th, 2007 at 4:55 pm

Got something you want to say?

Quicktags:


Notes:

You have 10 minutes after you submit your comment to edit it. Simply click the E(dit) link above the countdown-counter at the bottom of your comment. You can only edit a comment from the same IP address from where the original comment was submitted.

If your comment does not appear immediately, it has been sent to the moderation queue for approval.

Your comment either contained more than 2 hyperlinks, or it used a word(s) that are on my Spam blacklist. Comments awaiting moderation will usually be approved within a day.

And, being that it's my blog and all...I reserve the right to delete any comment for any reason at any time.