When we think of dangerous criminals, most of us picture men. But in Texas, several women have committed such terrible crimes that they now face the death penalty.
In Texas, it doesn’t matter your gender, race, or background — if you commit a serious crime, you will face the consequences.
Women on Death Row in Texas
While it’s not common for women to receive the death penalty in Texas, seven women are currently on death row out of the 196 total inmates facing execution.
After looking through the Texas Department of Criminal Justice records, it was shocking to see the details behind their convictions.
Here’s a look at the seven women currently awaiting execution in Texas:
1. Taylor Parker
Taylor Parker, from Titus County, was sentenced to death on November 9, 2022, at the age of 27. She was convicted of killing a pregnant woman to steal her unborn child.
2. Kimberly Cargill
Kimberly Cargill was sentenced to death in 2012 at the age of 45. She murdered her developmentally disabled babysitter, likely to prevent the woman from testifying in a court case involving an “injury to a child” charge.
3. Melissa Lucio
Melissa Lucio was sentenced in 2008 at the age of 40 for the death of her two-year-old child. However, a district judge recently recommended overturning her conviction due to withheld evidence.
4. Linda Carty
Linda Carty was sentenced to death in 2002 at the age of 43. She was convicted of kidnapping a 25-year-old woman and her newborn baby. While the baby was unharmed, the woman died of suffocation.
5. Brittany Holberg
Brittany Holberg was sentenced in 1998 at the age of 25. She was found guilty of robbing and killing an 80-year-old man in his home, stabbing him nearly 60 times.
6. Darlie Routier
Darlie Routier was sentenced in 1997 at the age of 27 for the stabbing deaths of her two young sons. Her case remains controversial and has been challenged multiple times.
7. Erica Sheppard
Erica Sheppard was sentenced in 1995 at the age of 21 for the murder of a 43-year-old woman during a home robbery.
Facts About Women on Death Row in Texas
Of the seven women on death row, four are White, two are Black, and one is Hispanic. Two of them were convicted in Harris County, which is notable since over 25% of men on death row in Texas are also from Harris County.
No Scheduled Execution Dates for Women on Death Row
While execution dates are set for several male inmates in Texas, none of the seven women currently have an execution date scheduled.
This serves as a stark reminder that anyone, regardless of gender, who commits a violent crime in Texas could face the death penalty.
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