Ker'Sean Ramey, 41, is set to be executed in Huntsville for his 2005 conviction in a triple homicide during an attempted robbery in Edna, Texas. His co-defendant, LeJames Norman, was executed Sept. 16 after testifying that both men shot the victims. Ramey's lawyers have appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing there is no physical evidence linking him to the killings and that jurors were not told about his history of childhood abuse and poverty. Prosecutors say there are no grounds to reopen the conviction; if carried out, the execution would be Texas's sixth this year.
Texas Schedules Execution Of Ker'Sean Ramey In 2005 Triple Homicide; Co-Defendant Executed Last Week
FILE - The state of Texas execution chamber in Huntsville, Texas, is seen on May 27, 2008. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan, File)(AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)
Ker'Sean Ramey, 41, is scheduled to be executed Wednesday by lethal injection at the Texas State Penitentiary in Huntsville for a 2005 triple homicide during an attempted robbery at a rural home in Edna, about 100 miles southwest of Houston.
Case Background
A jury convicted Ramey of capital murder in the deaths of Samuel Roberts, 24; Tiffani Peacock, 18; and Celso Lopez, 38, who shared a home in Edna. Court records say Ramey and co-defendant LeJames Norman believed the house contained cocaine and went there to steal it. When they found no drugs, the three residents were shot and killed.
Prosecutors and trial testimony say both men participated in the killings. Norman later testified that he and Ramey both fired on the victims. Witness testimony described multiple gunshot wounds: Lopez was shot four times (including three shots to the back of the head), Peacock was shot twice in the head, and Roberts was shot five times in the chest, neck and head.
This photo provided by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice shows Ker'Sean Ramey on Oct. 31, 2022. (Texas Department of Criminal Justice via AP)(Texas Department of Criminal Justice via AP)
Legal Fight Over Guilt And Sentencing
Norman was executed Sept. 16 in Huntsville. Ramey's attorneys filed a final appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court arguing there is no physical evidence tying him to the murders and that jurors were not presented with evidence of his childhood physical abuse and impoverished upbringing — factors the defense says could have affected sentencing. Prosecutors have maintained that Ramey raised no issues that would justify reopening the conviction.
Defense Argument: Attorneys say a lack of forensic evidence and unpresented mitigating childhood trauma were not considered at trial.
Prosecution Position: Authorities contend the conviction and sentence were properly obtained based on the record presented to jurors.
If carried out, Ramey's execution would be the sixth in Texas this year; state records show three additional executions are scheduled.
This article summarizes publicly available court records and statements from attorneys and prosecutors. At the time of reporting, Ramey's final appeals remained active in federal courts.
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