A Texas man named Matthew Lee Johnson is set to face execution on Tuesday evening for the brutal murder of an elderly clerk, Nancy Harris, who lost her life as a result of a violent robbery more than a decade ago. The tragic incident occurred in May 2012 when Johnson, then 36 years old, entered a convenience store in Garland, a northeastern suburb of Dallas, splashed 76-year-old Harris with lighter fluid, and ignited her, causing severe burns that ultimately led to her death.
Johnson, now 49, is scheduled to be administered a lethal injection after 6 p.m. CDT at the state penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas. His execution is one of two planned for that day in the United States, alongside the scheduled execution of Benjamin Ritchie in Indiana for the 2000 killing of a police officer. Johnson’s execution is set to occur exactly 13 years after Harris was attacked, highlighting the long path to justice in this case.
Despite numerous appeals made by Johnson’s legal team contesting his death sentence, including claims that the finding of his future dangerousness was flawed, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles rejected his request for a commutation last Friday. David Dow, one of Johnson’s attorneys, stated that no final appeals would be pursued with the U.S. Supreme Court to halt the execution. The lower appeals courts had previously denied attempts to stay Johnson’s execution.
The incident was captured on security video, providing key evidence in the case. Following the attack, Harris managed to describe her assailant before succumbing to her injuries several days later. Johnson's guilt has been uncontested; during his trial in 2013, he confessed to setting Harris on fire, expressing deep remorse and describing himself as "the lowest scum of the earth." He stated, “I hurt an innocent woman. I took a human being’s life. I was the cause of that. It was not my intentions to — to kill her or to hurt her, but I did.”
Johnson attributed his actions to being under the influence of crack cocaine at the time, having spent $100 on the drug before committing the crime. His defense argued that he had a history of drug addiction and had been sexually abused as a child, factors they deemed relevant to understanding his behavior. However, the Texas Attorney General’s Office contended that Johnson's appeals were merely attempts to postpone an inevitable execution. They asserted, “Thirteen years after the commission of Johnson’s crime, justice should no longer be denied.”
Nancy Harris had worked at the convenience store where the crime took place for more than a decade, living just a short distance away. She was a beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, leaving behind four sons, 11 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. Testimonies revealed that Harris had just started her Sunday morning shift when Johnson entered the store, filled with ill intent, demanding money and eventually setting her ablaze.
After the horrific attack, Harris desperately attempted to extinguish the flames consuming her, exiting the store while crying for help. A responding police officer used a fire extinguisher to douse the flames enveloping Harris’s body. She suffered extensive second- and third-degree burns and endured tremendous pain during her final days. According to medical testimonials, Johnson's actions resulted in profoundly devastating injuries that eventually claimed Harris's life.
If his execution is carried out, Johnson will be the fourth individual executed in Texas this year, solidifying the state's position as the nation’s most active in capital punishment. Should both executions on Tuesday proceed, the total number of executions in the United States for the year would rise to 18, reflecting ongoing national discussions surrounding capital punishment and its application.
