Texas Death Row: Karla Faye Tucker Went From A Pick Axe To Prayers

Is the death penalty appropriate for those who have the possibility of true rehabilitation? Which is more important: justice or mercy? These are big questions, and ones you may be inclined to ask yourself, particularly about the case of Karla Faye Tucker.

Looking back on news footage of Karla Faye Tucker, it becomes difficult to reconcile her sweet, girl-next-door face and cheery demeanor with her heinous crimes. She is shown smiling, talking happily about Jesus, and reverently praying. 

Sure, most people on death row tend to "find God " while they are there, but I don't doubt she was sincere, and neither did powerful religious figures at the time- both Pat Robinson and Pope John II pleaded for her death sentence to be commuted.

But those pleas, along with a chorus of others, failed to dissuade then-Governor George W. Bush. Karla was executed on February 3rd, 1998, making her the first woman to be executed in Texas in 135 years. Perhaps he was less sympathetic than others because of what she did to land herself on death row: she killed two people using a combination of a hammer and a pick ax.

Was Karla evil, or just a very misled young lady? 

On June 13th, 1983, Karla, only 23 years old, along with her accomplice Danny Garrett, entered the apartment of Jerry Lynn Dean with the intent to rob Jerry of some motorcycle parts, collect money from him, and intimidate him.

Karla was intoxicated, which included, "heroin, Valium, speed, Percodan, Mandrax [a methaqualone/antihistamine combination], marijuana, Dilaudid, methadone, tequila, and rum." While her judgment may have been impaired, her physical coordination was not- after Danny landed several blows with a hammer on Jerry, Karla finished him off with a pickax so he'd stop making gurgling noises. 

Then, Karla discovered that Jerry hadn't been alone in his apartment- hiding under covers was Deborah Ruth Thornton. Thorton would be found with the pickax still lodged in her heart. Karla had killed Deborah without any help from Danny.

Tucker and Garrett would be apprehended after bragging and laughing about the crimes. They were apprehended and tried. Despite pleading Not Guilty, Karla did herself no favors on the witness stand:

Tucker even boasted at her trial that she experienced an org*sm each time she plunged the ax down upon her victims. Back then, Tucker was a drug addict and prostitute who seemed unrepentant, and even proud, of her actions.

If you are now totally against Karla (which, it is fair if you are), remember this: she had only had 7 years of education, and her mother guided her into a life of drugs and prostitution. Karla lost her virginity at 12, and her groupie mother took her to follow bands like The Allman Brothers Band, Eagles, and The Marshall Tucker Band. She married briefly at 16, then began to hang out with bikers. She never truly had a shot at normalcy. But then again, many people don't and they don't kill people with pickaxes.

Depending on your perspective, death row may have been the best possible outcome for Karla, as it was there she discovered a Bible that she began reading.

"I didn't know what I was reading. Before I knew it, I was in the middle of my cell floor on my knees. I was just asking God to forgive me."

Luckily for Karla, God is more forgiving than Texas Death Row.