and so do the rest of us.
Alexander Martinez, 28, who was the ninth Texas killer to be executed this year, made only a brief final statement, assuring his family and friends of his love. His voice trembled and at times was barely audible.
As he looked toward the one-way mirror that concealed the witness chamber from his view, Martinez repeatedly smiled and silently mouthed unintelligible words.
Witnessing the execution were his wife, Alisa Martinez, a British citizen who married him by proxy while he was in prison, and Laura Martinez, his sister-in-law. They wept softly as the lethal drugs began to flow at 6:10 p.m. Martinez was declared dead eight minutes later.
No members of the victim's family asked to watch Martinez die.
Two hours before the execution, Martinez, an eighth-grade dropout, gave a hand-written statement to prison officials. In it, he acknowledged: "I have caused much pain to so many people."
"I especially want to apologize to my victim's family for the life I took," he wrote in a flowing cursive script.
"I am only taking full responsibility for what I have done. I am truly sorry and though some may not believe this. God only knows the truth and for that I know that's all that matters. I am ashamed for what I've done!"