- Texas appeals court grants indefinite stay for David Wood’s execution
- Wood maintained innocence for over three decades on death row
- 2011 DNA tests revealed unknown male profile on victim’s clothing
- Case underscores national debates on intellectual disability in executions
- Victims’ families await closure as legal battles persist
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals intervened Tuesday to halt the scheduled execution of David Leonard Wood, prolonging a legal saga that began with the discovery of six bodies in the El Paso desert in 1987. Wood, now 67, faced lethal injection for murders prosecutors called “calculated acts of brutality,” but his defense team argues new DNA evidence could exonerate him.
Legal experts note this case reflects growing scrutiny of aged capital punishment convictions. Over 15% of Texas death row exonerations since 2000 involved disputed forensic evidence, according to the National Registry of Exonerations. The state’s average 15.7-year death row stay before execution contrasts sharply with Wood’s 32-year wait – the longest in Texas history.
Forensic technology advancements have reshaped this case. While 2011 tests excluded Wood from DNA found on victim Dawn Smith’s clothes, courts have repeatedly denied requests to examine 300+ untested items. “This isn’t just about Wood’s guilt,” said attorney Gregory Wiercioch. “It’s about whether our system prioritizes finality over scientific truth.”
The regional implications mirror Texas’ 2019 stay for Rodney Reed, another death row inmate whose conviction faced DNA evidence challenges. Like Reed’s case, Wood’s appeal has drawn support from innocence projects arguing Texas lags in adopting improved forensic review protocols implemented in states like Florida and California.
As the Texas Attorney General’s office continues opposing DNA retesting, victims’ families remain divided. “We’ve carried this grief for 34 years,” said Maria Casio, sister of victim Rosa. “Every delay feels like losing her again.” Meanwhile, criminal justice reformers argue the case exemplifies systemic issues – from tunnel vision in cold case investigations to evolving standards for intellectual disability evaluations.