This Week in 2009

“The Polunsky dungeon should be compared with the Death Row Community as existing not living. Why do I say this, the Death Row is full of isolated hearts and suppressed minds. We are filled with love looking for affection and a way to understand. I am a Death Row resident of the Polunsky dungeon. Why does my heart ache. We want pleasure love and satisfaction. It. The walls of darkness crushed in on me. Life without meaning is life without purpose. But the solace within the Polunsky dungeon, the unforgivesness within society, the church Pastors and Christians. It is terrifying. Does anyone care or who I am. Can you feel me people. The Polunsky dungeon is what I call the pit of hopelessness. The terrfying thing is the US is the only place, country that is the only civilized country that is free that says it will stop murder and enable justice. I ask each of you to lift up your voices to demand an end to the Death Penalty. If we live, we live to the Lord. If we die we die to the Lord. Christ rose again, in Jesus name. Bye Aunt Helen, Luise, Joanna and to all the rest of yall. You may proceed Warden.”

– Johnny Johnson, convicted of sexual assault and murder, convicted of murder, lethal injection, Texas. Executed February 12, 2009.

After smoking the crack cocaine Johnson offered her in exchange for sex, Leah Joette Smith refused to have intercourse. Johnson became angry, banging Smith’s head against a concrete curb, and raped her. He also stomped on her head several times before leaving the scene, returning once to retrieve his wallet. Smith died from injuries. Johnson also confessed to raping 13 other women in the Houston and Austin areas.