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Christopher Wilkins was executed on January 11, 2017 in Texas.



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    Thursday, January 12th, 2017
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Christopher Wilkins was convicted of fatally shooting Willie Freeman, a homeless Fort Worth man, and Mike Silva, who lived in Tarrant County, on Oct. 27, 2005.

Wilkins told authorities that in October 2005, he left a Houston halfway house, stole a truck and drove to Fort Worth. Once there, he encountered Freeman, who offered to sell him drugs. Wilkins paid $20 for what he thought was crack cocaine, but proved to be only a rock. Freeman and his supplier laughed at Wilkins. In ensuing weeks, Wilkins and Freeman used drugs together; Freeman apologized for the scam and gave Wilkins free drugs. On Oct. 27, Wilkins told Freeman he had drugs and guns stashed in west Fort Worth, and asked that the homeless man and his friend, Silva, help retrieve them. Sitting in the back of Silva's vehicle, Wilkins directed the men to an isolated area. He then shot Freeman in the back of the head. Silva tried to flee, but became entangled in the seat belt. Wilkins then shot Silva once in the neck and twice in the head. Read More ↓

On federal appeal, Wilkins argued that his state habeas lawyer failed to pursue all valid claims for relief and that a mitigation investigation was also inadequate. He argued he was denied a right to unconflicted counsel, as one of his lawyers previously represented a man Wilkins confessed to killing two days before the murder of Freeman and Silva. His appeal was denied in March 2014.


Context
Christopher Wilkins was the 1,443rd person executed in the United States since 1976, the 539th person executed in Texas, and the 1,268th person executed by lethal injection.
198019851990199520002005201020152020CHRISTOPHER WILKINSEXECUTIONS SINCE 1976 (1532)EXECUTIONS IN TEXAS (570)EXECUTIONS BY LETHAL INJECTION (1352)MONTHLY EXECUTIONS1613


Credits
The Next to Die uses data from the Death Penalty Information Center combined with reporting from The Marshall Project and our partners.
Additional research by Maya Bernstein
Additional development by Gabe Isman
Additional design by Elan Kiderman
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