File photo
File photo
The coronavirus pandemic has extended the lives of four inmates on death row in Texas.
Billy Joe Wardlow became the latest inmate to have his execution date rescheduled due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Wardlow, who was sentenced to death for the shooting of Carl Cole in 1993, was scheduled for execution on April 29, KWTX reported. Instead, the 45-year-old had his date changed to July 8 by State District Judge Angela Saucier of Titus County.
Texas Department of Criminal Justice records indicate Wardlow and co-defendant Tonya Fuller entered the home of Cole, 82, on June 14, 1993 and shot him to death during a robbery attempt. Wardlow was 18 at the time.
Additionally, John Hummel had his March 18 execution delayed; Tracy Beatty’s execution was halted a couple of days later; and in April, Fabian Hernandez was given a 60-day stay of execution.
The next scheduled Texas execution is Edward Busby on May 6.
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