Journalism of Courage
A Texas man who confessed to killing five people during a six-month crime spree in 1998 has been executed. Elroy Chester received lethal injection yesterday evening in Huntsville for the fatal shooting of Port Arthur firefighter Willie Ryman III.
The 38-year-old Ryman interrupted Chester as he sexually assaulted Ryman’s two teenage nieces during a break-in at their home 15 years ago. Chester was on probation at the time,was arrested soon after and subsequently pleaded guilty to Ryman’s slaying. Evidence also showed Chester was responsible for three rapes and 25 home break-ins during his crime wave.
The execution was carried out after the US Supreme Court rejected a last-day appeal that raised questions whether a federal judge who ruled against Chester in an earlier was biased against him.
