Tiana Krasniqi, a 31-year-old British single mother, married convicted murderer James Broadnax just two weeks before his execution by lethal injection in Texas. She continues to insist he was innocent, despite his conviction for the 2008 murders of two music producers.
Background of the Crime
Broadnax, 37, was sentenced to death for the murders of Stephen Swan, 26, and Matthew Butler, 28, who were gunned down outside a Dallas studio in 2008. He committed the crime with his cousin, Demarius Cummings, while high on marijuana and PCP. Cummings received life in prison without parole, while Broadnax was sentenced to death.
Police stated that Broadnax confessed during an interview, but he later retracted his statement, with his legal team arguing he was under the influence of drugs at the time of the confession. Weeks before Broadnax's scheduled execution on April 30, 2026, Cummings confessed in a prison video that he was the one who pulled the trigger. Texas officials dismissed the confession as “questionable new evidence” and proceeded with the execution.
Relationship and Marriage
Tiana began writing to Broadnax as part of a penpal service while training in the legal profession. After spotting his case, she felt something was wrong and started corresponding. They eventually formed a bond, and he proposed during a prison visit. They married in a 20-minute ceremony through prison glass at the Allan B Polunsky Unit in Livingston, Texas, on April 14, 2026.
Tiana left her 8-year-old daughter with the girl’s biological father to visit Broadnax in prison. She described screaming “I love you” repeatedly as he struggled for 20 minutes after the injection was administered at the state penitentiary in Huntsville.
Final Moments and Aftermath
Before his death, Broadnax apologized, saying, “I wish I could show them my soul, so they could see just how sorry I am. I am very much remorseful for everything that happened.” After his execution, Tiana released a statement: “James was never a psychopath or predator, but he was a troubled teen who deeply regretted his participation in the robbery that led to his cousin killing Mr. Swan and Mr. Butler. He found his footing and profoundly transformed himself during his nearly two decades on death row. Through discipline, Christian faith, and an unwavering commitment to growth, James dedicated his life to becoming a source of stability, mentorship, and healing for others around him.”
Broadnax was the third inmate executed in Texas in 2026, a state that carries out more executions than any other in the US. The execution proceeded despite Cummings' last-minute confession, which Tiana believes exonerates her husband.
