This week in 1995

“I made a mistake 18 years ago—I lost control of my mind but I didn’t mean to hurt anyone. I have no hate toward humanity. I hope He will forgive me for what I done. I didn’t mean to.”

— John Fearance, convicted of murder, lethal injection, Texas.
Executed June 20, 1995

Fearance’s criminal record included time served for theft and rape. In 1977 he stabbed a neighbor, Larry Faircloth, while burglarizing his home. Earlier that night Fearance, an auto-body repairman, had fought with his wife after she cooked him a meat casserole, which he disliked. He would later say, “I just lost control of my mind. I just snapped.” Fearance was apprehended three hours after the crime, and the victim’s wife identified him.