Latest Legal News from the Criminal Courts in Houston, Texas

April 23, 2007

Media Advisory: Ryan Dickson scheduled for execution

AUSTIN – Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott offers the following information about Ryan Heath Dickson, who is scheduled to be executed after 6 p.m. Thursday, April 26, 2007.

In December 1997, Dickson was sentenced to death for the capital murder of Carmelo Surace during a robbery at an Amarillo convenience store. A summary of the evidence presented at trial follows.

FACTS OF THE CRIME

Shortly before 6 p.m. on November 27, 1994, a customer walked into a small grocery store/bicycle repair shop in the San Jacinto area of Amarillo and found the bodies of the store’s owners, Carmelo and Marie Surace. Both had been fatally shot.

Shortly after arriving at the crime scene, police officers were approached by a resident of the neighborhood who told officers she had seen four boys walking in the general direction of the grocery store and that she recognized one of the boys as someone she knew from the neighborhood. Officers were quickly able to narrow the focus to a group of young people, who were all taken in for questioning. After being given a Miranda warning, Ryan Dickson provided police with both a tape recorded statement and a written statement recounting the events that led up to the murders. In the interview, Dickson admitted he was responsible for the shooting deaths of both Carmelo and Marie Surace. Dickson’s confession was corroborated by both physical evidence and the statements of others.

PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Aug. 13, 1997 — A Potter County grand jury indicted Dickson for capital murder in the death of Carmelo Surace.
Dec. 16, 1997 — Judgment was entered after a jury found Dickson guilty of capital murder and following a separate punishment hearing, the court assessed a sentence of death.
Oct. 22, 1999 – Dickson filed a state writ application in the trial court
Apr. 26, 2000 — The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed Dickson’s conviction and sentence.
June 28, 2000 — The Court of Criminal Appeals denied Dickson’s motion for rehearing.
Feb. 21, 2001 — The Court of Criminal Appeals denied Dickson’s application for state habeas relief.
Nov. 6, 2001 — Dickson filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus in the federal district court.
Mar. 23, 2005 — The federal district court denied Dickson’s habeas petition.
Jun. 22, 2006 — The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted Dickson’s request for a certificate of appealability.
Aug. 24, 2006 — The Fifth Circuit Court denied Dickson’s appeal.
Sep. 22, 2006 — The Fifth Circuit Court denied Dickson’s motion for rehearing.
Dec. 22, 2006 — Dickson petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court for certiorari review. His petition was rejected.

PRIOR CRIMINAL HISTORY

Dickson has an extensive juvenile record, including burglary and an aggravated assault when he attacked one of his caretakers with a knife.

 

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