2003-01-29
| Travis Runnels |
|---|
| Classification: Murderer |
| Characteristics: Anger |
| Number of victims: 1 |
| Date of murder: January 29, 2003 |
| Date of arrest: Same day |
| Date of birth: December 17, 1972 |
| Victim profile: Stanley A. Wiley, 38 (prison employee) |
| Method of murder: Cutting his throat |
| Location: Potter County, Texas, USA |
| Status: Sentenced to death on November 16, 2005 |
Age at time of offense: 30
Age when received: 32
Date recieved: 11/16/2005
Native county: Dallas
Prior Offenses
TDCJ# 081244 on a five year sentence for burglary of a building from Dallas County; TDCJ# 782388 on a seventy year sentence for aggravated robbery from Dallas County.
Summary
On 01/29/2003 in Potter County, while incarcerated in the TDCJ Clements Unit, Runnels fatally stabbed a forty year old white male, who was working as an Industrial Supervisor in the unit boot factory.
Runnels was unhappy with his position as janitor at the prison boot factory and was angry that his request for a transfer to work in the prison barbershop had not been granted.
On the morning of the murder, he told another inmate that he was going to be "shipped one way or another" and that "he was going to kill someone." (Runnels vs. State). Upon arriving at the boot factory, he approached the victim and cut his throat. He then walked away from the victim until he was later identified and removed from general population.