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- Texas inmate set to be executed on teen victim’s birthday (newsbreak.com)
In Texas, Ramiro Gonzales, who confessed to abducting, sexually assaulting, and murdering the 18-year-old girlfriend of his drug dealer, was scheduled for execution on Wednesday, coinciding with what would have been the victim’s 41st birthday. The body of Bridget Townsend was discovered in October 2002, nearly two years after her disappearance, after Gonzales, already sentenced to life imprisonment for other crimes, led authorities to where he left her remains in Southwest Texas.
Gonzales was set to receive lethal injection at the Huntsville State Penitentiary Wednesday evening. The victim’s mother, Patricia Townsend, shared with USA Today that the chosen date for the execution, June 26, is deeply significant to her as it marks her daughter’s birthday; Bridget would have been 41 years old.
Gonzales, also 41, faced the death penalty for the murder of Townsend in January 2001 after he took drugs and money, kidnapped her from a Bandera County residence, and then assaulted and killed her at his family’s ranch in Medina County. Gonzales’ legal team petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court for a stay of execution, arguing that he has accepted responsibility for his actions and pointing out that an expert witness for the prosecution now recants his earlier testimony that Gonzales would pose a future danger, a crucial factor in the death sentence decision.
Despite Gonzales’ expressions of remorse and attempts at personal reform, Townsend’s brother, David, has publicly stated that nothing can excuse Gonzales’ heinous actions, advocating for the execution to proceed as planned for closure and peace for the family. Additionally, despite an appeal from a group of evangelical leaders for clemency, acknowledging Gonzales’ change of heart and his engagement in faith-based programs for inmates, the parole board unanimously decided against commutation or reprieve.
Prosecutors have labeled Gonzales a sexual predator who showed no mercy to Townsend despite her pleas. They argue that the evidence supporting the death sentence was substantial, even without the now-disputed expert testimony.
Should the execution go ahead, it will be the second this year in Texas, following the execution of Ivan Cantu in February. Currently, Texas houses 185 inmates on death row, as reported by the Death Penalty Information Center. Reflecting on her daughter, Patricia Townsend described Bridget as a vibrant and loving person who “didn’t deserve what she got,” stating that the upcoming execution will bring a sense of relief to her and her family.
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- Texas inmate set to be executed on teen victim’s birthday (newsbreak.com)