submitted by Mark R. Execution Watch Editor
On April 6 we will have our second execution in a little over two weeks, and our fourth of the year, that of Pablo Vasquez.
In the Rio Grande Valley town of Donna, Texas (home of the Donna Redskins, the only Valley high school ever to win a state football championship, Class 2A in 1961) Vasquez and his then 15-year-old cousin, Andy Chapa, met 12-year-old Daniel Cardenas at a party. They invited Cardenas to join them afterwards, then
killed him by blunt force trauma to the head (pipe and shovel) and buried his body. Vasquez took a ring and necklace from Cardenas’ body.
From the above information (taken mostly from TDCJ’s website) this would appear to be little more a nondescript robbery-murder. But as Paul Harvey would say, there is “the rest of the story.” For Vasquez’ motive in killing Cardenas wasn’t robbery—it was his desire to drink Cardenas’ blood as part of an occult ritual ceremony. (In addition to the blood, Cardenas’ body was found missing one arm and part of the other, as well as no skin on his back.)
Vasquez was found guilty and given the death penalty. (Chapa, being under 18, was too young to be given the death penalty for his part in Cardenas’ murder.) Along the way, a few minor issues were remanded to lower courts, but ultimately all appeals were DENIED and there do not appear to be any further appeals pending in this case.
Pablo Vasquez wanted to engage in occult practices. Sometime after 6PM Huntsville time he may very well meet the Devil—and then it will be too late to engage in anything else.
Filed under: Execution Watch, News and politics, texas | Tagged: Capital Punishment, Mark R | 3 Comments »
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