Ramiro Gonzales, 41, admitted to kidnapping, sexually assaulting, and fatally shooting his drug dealer's girlfriend, Bridget Townsend, in 2001. Scheduled for execution by lethal injection in Huntsville, Texas, his lawyers argue he has changed, taking responsibility and seeking redemption, supported by a prosecution expert witness now retracting his testimony on Gonzales being a future danger. Faith leaders and lawyers petition for a stay of execution, citing constitutional rights violations by the Texas court of criminal appeals.
Ivan Cantu, a Texas death row inmate, was executed for the 2000 murders of his cousin and his cousin's girlfriend, despite fervently claiming his innocence until the end. Cantu was convicted in 2001 for the killings during a robbery attempt involving drugs and cash. His appeals were denied, with courts citing insufficient credible evidence to overturn his conviction. Cantu's attorney argued for his innocence, presenting new evidence but ultimately chose not to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Supporters, including celebrities and faith leaders, sought to delay the execution, but Cantu's sentence was carried out in Huntsville, Texas.
Alberto R. Gonzales (born August 4, 1955) is an American lawyer who served as the 80th United States Attorney General from 2005 to 2007 and is the highest-ranking Hispanic American in executive government to date. He previously served as Secretary of State of Texas, as a Texas Supreme Court Justice, and as White House Counsel, becoming the first Hispanic to hold that office.Gonzales's tenure as U.S. Attorney General was marked by controversy regarding warrantless surveillance of U.S. citizens and the legal authorization of "enhanced interrogation techniques", later generally acknowledged as constituting torture, in the U.S. government's post-9/11 "War on Terror". Gonzales had also presided over the firings of several U.S. Attorneys who had refused back-channel White House directives to prosecute political enemies, allegedly causing the office of Attorney General to become improperly politicized. Following calls for his removal, Gonzales resigned from the office "in the best interests of the department," on August 27, 2007, effective September 17, 2007.In 2008, Gonzales began a mediation and consulting practice. Additionally, he taught a political science course and served as a diversity recruiter at Texas Tech University. Gonzales is currently the Dean of Belmont University College of Law, in Nashville, Tennessee, where he teaches National Security Law. He was formerly Of Counsel at a Nashville-based law firm—Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, LLP—where he advised clients on special matters, government investigations and regulatory matters.
Sef Gonzales (born 16 September 1980) is a Filipino Australian man who was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the July 2001 murders of his father Teodoro "Teddy" Gonzales (46), his mother Mary Loiva Gonzales (43), and his sister Clodine Gonzales (18), in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. As a result of notoriety surrounding the sale of the house where the crimes occurred, the New South Wales government made it illegal to not disclose information related to the history of a property.
Shannon Wilkerson, a former US Army soldier, has been found guilty of murdering 19-year-old Amanda Gonzales, a pregnant colleague, in Germany in 2001. Wilkerson beat and strangled Gonzales at a US Army base in Hanau. The conviction on a second-degree murder charge could lead to a maximum sentence of life in prison. Wilkerson was charged under the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act, allowing federal courts in the US to prosecute crimes committed internationally by former military members. Gonzales' body was found two days after her death in the barracks room where she worked as a cook.
U.S. Rep Tony Gonzales of Texas is in a GOP primary runoff against gun-rights YouTube creator Brandon Herrera, while Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan faces a tough challenge. Gonzales, criticized by some hard-right Republicans for his voting record, has the support of key party figures like U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Gov Greg Abbott. A loss for Gonzales or Phelan could impact the balance of power in the Republican-controlled Legislature and the state's policymaking.
Gonzales is a city in the U.S. state of Texas, with a population of 7,165 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Gonzales County. The "Come and Take It" incident, the ride of the Immortal 32 into the Alamo, and the Runaway Scrape after the fall of the Alamo, all integral events in the War for Texas Independence from Mexico, originated in Gonzales.Its cattle and poultry economy is enhanced by oilfield services and light manufacturing enterprises, a short rail connection to a major Union-Pacific rail line, and lodging oil field workers from the nearby Eagle Ford Shale. It is the site of the Battle of Gonzales, the first battle of the Texas Revolution.
A North Dakota woman, Ina Thea Kenoyer, pleaded guilty to murdering her boyfriend, Steven Edward Riley Jr., due to a false belief that he inherited $30 million. She poisoned him with antifreeze, leading to his death. Kenoyer faces up to life in prison without parole. Despite Kenoyer's financial motives, investigators found the inheritance claim to be a hoax. Riley's friends suspected foul play as Kenoyer had discussed poisoning him in the past. Kenoyer falsely claimed common-law marriage and planned to split the inheritance. She spiked his sweet tea with antifreeze before his lawyer meeting. Scheduled to be sentenced on August 14, she may undergo a psychological evaluation.
In a closely contested runoff election, Tony Gonzales, a moderate Texas Republican congressman, narrowly defeated Brandon Herrera, endorsed by the GOP's far-right Freedom caucus, with a margin of 50.7% to 49.3%. Gonzales condemned Herrera as a neo-Nazi and criticized GOP officials for supporting him. The victory ensures Gonzales will be the party's candidate in November's general election. Herrera, a gun rights advocate with a large social media following, campaigned with the backing of high-profile Republicans like Matt Gaetz and Bob Good. Gonzales faced backlash for his moderate stances on border security and government spending.
Rep. Tony Gonzales has focused on community projects in Texas's 23rd District, facing criticism for a conservative border bill. A primary battle in southeastern Texas features Speaker Dade Phelan against Trump-backed David Covey. Phelan's impeachment efforts against Ken Paxton caused rifts in the Texas GOP. Trump's influence and support for Covey signal a shift in Texas politics, reflecting a broader GOP civil war. Approximately $7 million has been spent in the state House district in 2023 and 2024, with Phelan's campaign leading in spending.
Ernest Anthony "Tony" Gonzales II (born October 10, 1980) is an American politician and United States Navy veteran who has served as the U.S. representative for Texas's 23rd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives since 2021. He is a member of the Republican Party. Gonzales is considered a moderate Republican, having voted for bipartisan gun control and the Respect for Marriage Act. These votes resulted in a censure from the Texas Republican Party. He is also one of 18 Republicans who voted against Jim Jordan's nomination for Speaker of the House all three times, and only Republican to have voted against the House rules package afterwards.
Texas State Penitentiary at Huntsville or Huntsville Unit (HV), nicknamed "Walls Unit", is a Texas state prison located in Huntsville, Texas, United States. The approximately 54.36-acre (22.00 ha) facility, near downtown Huntsville, is operated by the Correctional Institutions Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The facility, the oldest Texas state prison, opened in 1849.The unit houses the execution chamber of the State of Texas. It is the most active execution chamber in the United States, with 587 (as of February 28, 2024) executions since 1982, when the death penalty was reinstated in Texas (see Lists of people executed in Texas).
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