Steven Woods

[El Mono]

Quote:So - if he was present he STOOD BY and let this happen ???

I dont believe anyone should have the death penalty - but similarly I wont lift a finger to defend anyone who witnessed such a crime and did nothing.

Not everyone is brave.
Also, regardless of his cowardliness, letting him be killed too is wrong, it's more of a case of anti-capital punishment. Also, while we won't agree it was the right thing to do, he hasn't actually committed a crime just by standing by?

[1871]

True - not everyone is brave - but if he witnessed it he could have gone straight to the cops - I dont know if he did that. If you were one of the two people being threatened do you think you could have made a struggle against one at least - rather than the two people coercing and threatening you. What if this happened to one of your own family/some you love?

I dont t believe in the death penalty either - but that doesntI doesntt mean I would defend someone who was a party to such an act.

Just read the way they died. Did he go to the cops straight after the crime? Did he assist in the victums abduction? Why didnt he stop it ? They were being held against their will obviously. IF one person had been shot before he had a chance to do anything - ok I can understand that. But watching two people as they got their throats cut and shot? Two people?

What was his testimony in court?

Sorry Mono - you go and start a campaign for the guy by all means - hes got just over 15 days left. I'll read any further info that will enlighten me further but what I read so far about the way those people were killed I know that a good man - even a halof way good man - would have tried to stop such a thing happening.

[El Mono]

I know that I would like to say I would have tried to stop it if it was someone I love - I'm not justifying this cowardly action, maybe he isn't a good man at all, but I believe no one deserves the death penalty, no matter the crime or inaction.
(well..Maybe some world leaders do, but that's besides the point ).

[1871]

I agree with you.

On a side note;

Boulas or whatever the name is -started this thread and at least more info should have been posted more info which should have clarified things

- i think that is irresponsible given the seriousness of all this.

[stylishxnihilist]

Hi. I am Steven's good friend.
On the night of this heinous crime, Ron (victim 1) ran into Steven and Marcus at their usual hangout spot , insomnia coffee in Deep Ellum. Ron asked Steven to help him out. He said that he wanted to sell a vial of LSD and asked if Steven knew anyone that would be interested. Ron had helped Steven with scoring drugs in the past so Steven said sure, and Ron said he'd get him high if he could help out. Steven was staying at an abandoned warehouse with his friend Marcus Rhodes at that time and Rhodes offered Ron to tag along and said he'd drive Woods back so that Ron wouldn't have to drive all the way back to deep ellum, as he planned on partying downtown with his girl, Bethena (victim 2). In turn, Ron gave him some LSD too. All 4 along with a few other mutual friends were partying at a club downtown and Ron urged Rhodes and Woods that he wanted the LSD sold that night. Rhodes got in the drivers seat of his car, Woods got in the passenger seat, and Bethena and Ron followed in Bethena's car. They drove up to the neighborhood the LSD buyer lived in and parked on the grass by a golf course since they didn't want the buyers mother to ask questions about the 2 cars rolling up to the house. Once they were stopped, Brosz got out and sat on the hood of her car. Ron opened the passenger door and let Steven out and Steven was craving a smoke since he was all out.. Steven asked Ron if he could have a smoke, and Ron said yea, help yourself, they're on the seat in Bethena's car, grab one for me too. Sidenote: All four people were high on LSD - which does not show up on standard toxicology reports. As Steven gives Ron the cigarette he requested Steven hears Thunder and feels something warm on his face as Ron falls to the ground. Marcus is now hovering over Ron. Steven sees lightning and hears more thunder. He thinks it's storming. Mind you, he is on LSD. Marcus gets up and points the gun to Stevens face. Steven hears Bethena ask "What are you doing.....?" As Marcus turns to Bethena, Steven dodges, hides in Marcus' car and tries to tell himself that it's all in his head. Just a bad trip. Steven hears more thunder. Later when Marcus bragged about the murders, Steven found out that when Marcus realized he ran out of bullets, Marcus drew out a little self defense pistol he carried on the reg, that could only hold 2 bullets, and shot bethena in the knee to debilitate her as he refilled his .380, a larger gun. Marcus also noted that when he was done shooting the two, he checked bethena for a pulse. He felt a pulse so her slit her throat along with Ron's. Marcus was an avid hunter and had plenty of weapons and good aim. You would probably need hunting experience to shoot someone in the knee as they attempt to flee.. and Rhodes had been hunting since a very young age. All this time, Steven is in the car telling himself it's all in his head. Marcus is yelling at Steven "open up the trunk!" because Marcus had his hands full with 2 backpacks he stole from the victims. Steven, fearing his life, got out and opened the trunk and went back in the passenger's seat. Marcus got into the drivers side and drove himself and Steven away like it was nothing. He would not leave Stevens side for the next day and he was armed. So what would you say if Steven were your son? Have you ever taken hallucinogens and attempted to stop an armed killer who just murdered your two friends in front of you? Maybe it was cowardess but saying you'd prevent the shootings is a bit weird, considering you don't really know the story.
To all who have been supportive, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

---

and just as a sidenote, steven was tried first and sentenced to death as the shooter despite any physical evidence against him and despite the fact that marcus got arrested and his guns were only covered in his own fingerprints and the victims' backpacks were in his trunk. Marcus never said that Steven participated in or plotted/knew about the murder. After Steven was sentenced to death, Marcus asked for a plea bargain in return for info about another murder.. it was a man Marcus had killed1.5 months prior this one. Steven was not at the scene of that murder.



The reason we don't broadly advertise Steven's story is because I do not like knowing that somewhere out there, 4 parents will likely stumble upon the details of the disgusting murders of their children. While yes, it will help Steven if the world knew the whole story, I feel like a gory play by play will be a traumatizing event for their loved ones. I apologize to the families of Bethena and Ron, as I can't imagine what they had to go through and I would hate to put them through more hurt. I just don't know what to do anymore

[1871]

Well I hope my son wouldnt keep bad company for a start - and here I am referring to the murderer - but then you can never know that - it can happen to anyone andI know you can often never know events which can take you by surprise. I dont think its wierd to say that I'd try to prevent the shootings or wondering why Steven Woods didnt - but then we didnt have the full picture as you have just stated which helps clarify a lot of things.
I know that LSD is difficult to detect - it can be detected in urine samples some 48 hours after being taken

I already emailed the Texas governor /authorities linked to when I first posted on this thread - and even without the full facts -but I dont think it would have been acknowledged as I dont live in the US -

But thanks for clarifying things and where is/what is the campaign to get the sentence stopped and what can be done now?

http://www.saveaninnocentlife.net/Help.html

[stylishxnihilist]

Thank you for sending out a letter to the gov. noting your support. It may be acknowledged and it's more than most people do for him so we appreciate it.

Yeah, anyone would hope that their son wouldn't keep that company.
Wondering why Steven Woods didn't prevent the murders is a legitimate thing.
Saying it's wrong to kill him and calling him a coward was weird to me.
IMHO, It's either wrong or right to kill him; Saying a coward deserves to live will get us nowhere, from a relief perspective.. and I don't mean to come off as bitchy or rude, but it's SO hard for me to read that even the people that support his side end up calling him names.
His website is http://www.TexasKills.com On there, there are links to Steven's FB and my email. He has nothing to hide and if people have questions I'd be happy to give them all the info I can.

We have filed a clemency petition and are filing his last minute successor appeal.I posted a letter writing competition on his fb
http://www.facebook.com/savesteven
There are no petitions to sign and we are keeping it this way as petitions in TX must be notarized and each signature must have a TX voter number and TX mailing address.
Thanks again for helping and for your interest in Steven's case.

[stylishxnihilist]

Wow . I just spoke to Noam Chomsky about the case and he was kind enough to let me quote him:
"I think the death penalty is a crime no matter what the circumstances, and it is particularly awful in the Steven Woods case.
I strongly oppose the execution of Steven Woods on September 13 2011."
-Noam Chomsky (8/26/11)

What an amazing man!

[Asshole]

you know him personally? make a thread about that, i'm sure a few members would love to ask him some questions

[stylishxnihilist]

Who? Chomsky or Steven?

[Asshole]

well shit i was referring to chomsky, but you also know steven?

[stylishxnihilist]

I am Steven's fiancee...

I wish I had time and energy to bother Chomsky with questions, I'm kind of swamped/overwhelmed with Steven's case.