A planned execution was set to take place in Texas on Tuesday evening for Travis Mullis, a man convicted of killing his 3-month-old son more than 16 years ago. Mullis, 38 years old, was sentenced to death for stomping his son Alijah to death in January 2008 at the state penitentiary in Huntsville. This execution is part of a series of five executions scheduled within a week in the United States.
Authorities reported that Mullis, then 21 years old, was living in Brazoria County when he drove to Galveston with his son after an argument with his girlfriend. Mullis sexually assaulted his son, and when the infant started crying uncontrollably, he proceeded to strangle him and then stomp on his head. The baby’s body was discovered on the roadside, and Mullis later fled Texas but was apprehended in Philadelphia after turning himself in to the police there.
Despite Mullis’ history of mental illness, his attorney, Shawn Nolan, stated that there would be no further appeals made to halt the planned lethal injection. Nolan described Mullis as a “redeemed man” who had taken responsibility for his actions and had a troubled childhood, being abandoned by his parents and facing abuse from his adoptive father.
In a letter to U.S. District Judge George Hanks in Houston, Mullis expressed his desire not to challenge his case any further and acknowledged that his punishment was warranted. Galveston County District Attorney Jack Roady, who prosecuted Mullis, declined to comment prior to the scheduled execution on Tuesday.
Moreover, Mullis has had disagreements with his legal counsel over the years regarding appealing his case. Despite being treated for mental illness since the age of 3 and experiencing severe bipolar disorder, courts had previously ruled that he was mentally competent when waiving his right to appeal. The U.S. Supreme Court’s prohibition against executing the intellectually disabled does not extend to individuals with serious mental illnesses.
If the executions in Texas, Missouri, Alabama, and Oklahoma proceed as planned, it will mark the first time in over two decades that five executions were carried out within seven days. These executions are drawing attention from organizations like the Death Penalty Information Center, which does not take a stance on capital punishment but criticizes the execution process. A recent execution took place in South Carolina, where inmate Freddie Owens was put to death.
In conclusion, Mullis’ case raises questions about the intersection of mental illness and justice in the criminal legal system, highlighting the complexities surrounding capital punishment and individuals with significant mental health challenges.
