Steven Lawayne Nelson, aged 37, was executed in Texas on Thursday for the 2011 murder of Reverend Clint Dobson, marking a somber end to a case that gripped the state. The execution was watched by Nelson’s wife and his service dog, an unusual but poignant scene at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s death chamber.
In a final act of defiance, Nelson refused to walk to his execution, staging what he called a “non-violent protest.” As he was wheeled into the chamber, he issued his last words to the warden, stating, “Let’s ride, Warden,” demonstrating his contentious relationship with the justice system until the very end.
Nelson was convicted of strangling Reverend Dobson inside his church and violently assaulting the church’s secretary, who survived the attack. Throughout his trial and subsequent appeals, Nelson maintained his innocence, a claim that did not sway the courts or public opinion.
This execution comes at a time when Texas has abolished the tradition of granting last meal requests to death row inmates. The state has three more executions scheduled before April, continuing to lead the nation in the number of executions carried out.
The execution of Nelson has reignited debates over the death penalty, with advocates for abolition citing the finality of such sentences in light of potential wrongful convictions. On the other hand, supporters of capital punishment argue for its role in delivering justice for heinous crimes.
As Texas moves forward with its scheduled executions, the case of Steven Lawayne Nelson will likely be remembered for his last words, encapsulating his resistance to the justice system’s ultimate penalty.
2011 Murder of Reverend Clint Dobson: A Case Overview
Date: February 06, 2025
Location: Arlington, Texas
In a crime that shook the community of Arlington, Texas, Reverend Clint Dobson was brutally murdered inside his own church in March 2011. Here’s an overview of the case:
The Crime:
Date: March 3, 2011
Location: NorthPointe Baptist Church, Arlington, Texas
Victims:
Reverend Clint Dobson, 28, was suffocated to death with a plastic bag after being assaulted.
Judy Elliott, the church’s secretary, was severely beaten but survived despite sustaining critical injuries including internal bleeding and trauma to various parts of her body.
The Perpetrator:
Steven Lawayne Nelson, then 24, was convicted of the murder. He had a history of criminal activity, including being on probation for assault at the time of the crime. Nelson was found with stolen items from the church, including Dobson’s laptop and Elliott’s car, after using their credit cards for purchases.
Investigation and Trial:
Arrest: Nelson was apprehended soon after the crime, with forensic evidence like bloodstains on his shoes and fingerprints at the scene linking him to the murder.
Trial: In October 2012, Nelson was tried and found guilty of capital murder. He claimed during the trial that he only acted as a lookout and accused two friends of committing the actual murder, but this defense was not upheld.
Sentencing: Nelson was sentenced to death, with the jury opting for execution over life imprisonment without parole.
