Texas Executes Double-Murderer Cedric Ricks After 2013 Stabbing Spree
Cedric Ricks, a 51-year-old Death Row inmate, was executed by lethal injection in Texas on Wednesday evening. Ricks was convicted for the brutal 2013 murders of his girlfriend, Roxann Sanchez, and her eight-year-old son, Anthony Figueroa.
Final Apology to Surviving Victim
In his final statement, Ricks expressed profound remorse, particularly addressing Marcus Figueroa, the 12-year-old son of Sanchez who survived the attack with multiple stab wounds. "I want to say that I'm sorry for taking Roxann and Anthony from y'all," Ricks stated when asked by the warden for his last words. "I'm glad to be able to speak to tell y'all that face to face."
He directly apologised to Marcus, saying, "I always thought about you and I'm sorry that I took your mom and your brother away. I hate that you had to experience that, I just can't imagine, but I'm truly sorry for what I've done." Ricks added that he hoped to find Sanchez and Anthony in heaven to apologise in person.
Witnesses and Execution Details
The execution took place at the state penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas, with Ricks pronounced dead at 6:55pm local time after receiving a lethal dose of the sedative pentobarbital. Seven relatives of the victims witnessed the event, including Marcus Figueroa, who showed no emotion as he watched through a glass window. Scars from the attack were visible on the back of his neck.
Other witnesses included Roxann Sanchez's stepfather and brother, along with Anthony Figueroa's father, brother, and grandmother. None displayed any emotion in the death chamber, and they declined to speak with reporters afterward.
Background of the 2013 Murders
The killings occurred in May 2013 at an apartment in Bedford, a suburb in the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area. Prosecutors detailed that Ricks and Sanchez had been arguing when her two sons from a previous marriage attempted to intervene. Ricks then grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed Sanchez multiple times.
After killing Anthony Figueroa, Ricks attacked Marcus Figueroa, who was stabbed 25 times but feigned death to survive. Marcus had tried to call police from his bedroom closet during the assault. Notably, Ricks did not harm his own nine-month-old son, Isaiah, who was present. Ricks fled the scene and was later arrested in Oklahoma.
Legal Proceedings and Final Appeal
On the day of the execution, the US Supreme Court rejected Ricks' final appeal without comment. His attorneys had argued that prosecutors violated his constitutional rights by eliminating potential jurors based on race during the trial panel selection. This appeal marked the last legal effort to halt the execution, which proceeded as scheduled.
Ricks concluded his final statement by saying, "I hope y'all go in peace. I really do. I'm sorry," before the lethal injection began. His execution brings closure to a case that has lingered for over a decade, highlighting the enduring impact of violent crime on survivors and families.
