Man Who Beat Toddler To Death, Executed

[Lethalfind]

Man Who Beat Toddler To Death Executed

 

Child's Injuries Were Worse Than Car Crash Victims

 

 

POSTED: 11:30 am EST March 23, 2006

 

HUNTSVILLE, Texas -- In the moments before his execution, Robert Salazar Jr. continued to deny he was responsible for the death of his girlfriend's 2-year-old daughter.

 

"I am sorry that the child had to lose her life, but I should not have to be here," Salazar said Wednesday night before he was executed for the beating death of Adriana Gomez in April 1997.

 

Salazar claimed Adriana was accidentally injured after he pushed her when she wouldn't stop crying while he was baby-sitting her. But authorities said Salazar, in a violent rage, inflicted injuries described as being worse than those suffered by auto accident victims.

 

"To everybody on both sides of that wall, I want you to know that I love you both," Salazar said in his last statement, acknowledging his family and Adriana's mother and other relatives who were there as witnesses. He looked toward his family during his remarks.

 

"Tell my family I love them all and I will see them in heaven. Come home when you can."

 

Salazar was pronounced dead at 6:20 p.m., seven minutes after the lethal dose began to flow.

 

Salazar, 27, of Lubbock, was the sixth prisoner put to death this year in Texas and the second of four scheduled this month in the nation's busiest capital punishment state.

 

The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles on Monday rejected requests to commute Salazar's sentence to life or halt the execution. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals turned down requests by Salazar's attorney, Michael Charlton, to stop the execution based on claims the inmate is mentally retarded. There were no appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court.

 

Authorities said Salazar delivered at least three life-threatening injuries to the girl: a blow to the head that left it feeling like gelatin, a blow to her chest that left her heart on the verge of rupturing and a blow to her abdomen that pushed internal organs against her backbone.

 

"This is one of those few cases that came down the pike that justice would not be satisfied unless he paid an ultimate price for this," said Rusty Ladd, who helped prosecute the case for the Lubbock County District Attorney's Office.

 

Salazar began dating Adriana's mother, Raylene Blakeburn, in 1996. He took care of the toddler while her mother worked. Blakeburn told authorities Salazar had abused her daughter several other times.

 

After beating her, Salazar left Adriana in the crib at her Lubbock home and went to his mother's house to drink beer with a friend. Adriana died a few hours at a hospital after being discovered by her mother when she got home from work.

 

Salazar, 18 at the time of his crime, refused a request from The Associated Press for an interview in the weeks before his scheduled execution.

 

Philip Wischkaemper, Salazar's defense attorney during his 1999 trial, said the inmate's mental retardation was behind his lack of remorse.

 

Prosecutors contended Salazar was not mentally retarded. The mental retardation issue was not brought up during Salazar's trial.

 

In 2002, the Supreme Court barred executions of the mentally retarded, on grounds they violated the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment.

 

Wischkaemper said Salazar was condemned partly because jurors at his trial were misinformed by someone on the panel that he could have been released on parole in 20 to 25 years instead of the actual 40 if sentenced to life in prison.

 

Ladd, now a judge in Lubbock, said jurors were swayed by the brutal nature of the crime.

 

Two executions are scheduled for next week.

 

Raymond Martinez, condemned for the 1983 shooting death of a Houston bar owner during a robbery, is set to be executed Tuesday. Kevin Kincy, condemned for the 1993 murder of a Houston area man during a scheme to rob his home, is set to be executed on Wednesday.

 

http://www.local6.com/news/8208386/detail.html

Copyright 2006 by

The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

 

How do you feel about capital punishment?

I like the way Texas deals with them, lock and load, line um up and flip the switch.

This guy in particular makes me sick, I would have liked to flip the switch on him myself. The woman who left her child alone with someone she couldn't have known very well needs a wake up call as well.

My daughter is 9 years old and I have NEVER left her alone with a man, any man. Other then family, I have allowed a friend who is a nurse to take care of her and she has gone over to 2 friends house, I knew ahead of time the Mother was going to be there the whole time AND Diane was 8 years old before I allowed any sleep overs. Whats wrong with people, they treat their children worse then a house pet?

[atlantic]

It all depends on the case; this man was without a doubt imo guilty. Had it been my child, he never would have made it through the trial. I agree with you about people who let strangers watch their children, it is stupid. My son is 4 and has only been watched by my sister (for like 8 hours tops at different times) otherwise he is with his dad, if I go somewhere, or myself if his dad is going somewhere. Sometimes his grandfather, not very often though.

[snafu]

It all depends on the case; this man was without a doubt imo guilty. Had it been my child, he never would have made it through the trial. I agree with you about people who let strangers watch their children, it is stupid. My son is 4 and has only been watched by my sister (for like 8 hours tops at different times) otherwise he is with his dad, if I go somewhere, or myself if his dad is going somewhere. Sometimes his grandfather, not very often though.

 

 

Death is to good for shit like this. I think the mom should get to pistol whip him first. Then slowly cut his skin off until he bleeds to death.

I see nothing wrong with a little tourture first.

[slip_knot]

The guy is clearly a liar. A kid does not get such horrifying injuries from "being pushed". This was a vicious, sadistic, prolonged beating. I'm glad he is dead. It is not a hatred or revenge issue. Now we know he can't do this again. Its that simple.

 

Snafu says:

I see nothing wrong with a little tourture first.

 

I've often thought this myself. It pisses me off, when I see a low-life like tookie, getting carefully and considerately put to sleep. I bet they even gave the shit a pillow to rest his head on. The contrast to how his victims died is vert great.

 

I like the way the Victorian British did it. The Animal gets plenty of notice. During this time he can get to know a horrifying level of fear, and despair, like his victim. Then he gets marched up to the gibbet. They tie the noose round his worthless neck. Then he is slowly strangled to death.

 

No quick drop. No broken neck, and his victims family, like everyone else in town gets to see him die painfully , after listening to the bum begging for his life.

[Outlaw2747]

Death was too easy for the motherfucker. I'll give the Torture To Death route to that pig.

[builder]

And here we have another twisted fucker using jealousy as a reason for killing a baby.

 

What a fucking jerk. I would love to wrap my hands around this fucker's throat, and show him what it's like to be on the end of my anger.

[slip_knot]

In the fucked up UK, this arsehole would be imprisoned for about 8 years, then he'd be out, and quite probably do something like it again.

[tiredofwhiners]

Death is to good for shit like this. I think the mom should get to pistol whip him first. Then slowly cut his skin off until he bleeds to death.

I see nothing wrong with a little tourture first.

 

I would like to help in this. Could we get a lottery set up, so i can have a chance?

[Lethalfind]

I think that when a parent puts their child in a dangerous position like this Mother did, they should be held responsible...Its called "endangering the life of a child".

I wish people would figure out that having a child is MORE responsiblity then having a house pet, a plant or anything else they have done in their worthless lives and take steps to NOT get pregnant when their clearly not able to deal with it.

Children do not bounce back with a little extra care after you have fucked up like a houseplant.

Children are not like your dog, you can't go off and leave them with anyone who is willing to keep them...

[RoyalOrleans]

On a side note...

 

About a year ago, give or take a month, I was shopping in my local grocery store. Pushing the cart along the chip aisle, because I had already gotten the beer, I noticed a man (father) pulling a boy (his son) by his arm. The kid was balling and I though "oh geez... just buy the brat the sugary cereal he wants and be done with it.". I walked on by.

 

As I turned to go up the next aisle, I glanced back toward the man and the boy. I observed the man let go of the boy and then he sent a roundhouse kick to the back of the boy's head. The boy went screaming down the aisle.

 

My first instinct was to approach this fucker and I did. I got right into the man's grill and asked him to try that shit on me. Of course he whimpered and backed down, but not without telling me he was a blackbelt or some bullshit.

 

At that point, the whole store had virtually come to a stop. And all the little cashiers, stocker, a black-tied manager, and customers were peering down the aisle from either end. So, I turned and walked away. I had beer to buy for Christ's sake!

 

It turned out, while I had confronted this fucker the black-tied manager had already called the local PD and they arrived right at the time I was in the check out line. The manager gave his statement and they approached me for mine and I gave it.

 

I don't know whatever became of the man, but I'm sure he's been made a bitch within the confines of our local penal facility.

 

So in response to the man who beat the toddler to death, or any of these dickless cowards, come down here and try that shit on me. I dare you. I double dog dare you.

[Lethalfind]

On a side note...

 

About a year ago, give or take a month, I was shopping in my local grocery store. Pushing the cart along the chip aisle, because I had already gotten the beer, I noticed a man (father) pulling a boy (his son) by his arm. The kid was balling and I though "oh geez... just buy the brat the sugary cereal he wants and be done with it.". I walked on by.

 

As I turned to go up the next aisle, I glanced back toward the man and the boy. I observed the man let go of the boy and then he sent a roundhouse kick to the back of the boy's head. The boy went screaming down the aisle.

 

My first instinct was to approach this fucker and I did. I got right into the man's grill and asked him to try that shit on me. Of course he whimpered and backed down, but not without telling me he was a blackbelt or some bullshit.

 

At that point, the whole store had virtually come to a stop. And all the little cashiers, stocker, a black-tied manager, and customers were peering down the aisle from either end. So, I turned and walked away. I had beer to buy for Christ's sake!

 

It turned out, while I had confronted this fucker the black-tied manager had already called the local PD and they arrived right at the time I was in the check out line. The manager gave his statement and they approached me for mine and I gave it.

 

I don't know whatever became of the man, but I'm sure he's been made a bitch within the confines of our local penal facility.

 

So in response to the man who beat the toddler to death, or any of these dickless cowards, come down here and try that shit on me. I dare you. I double dog dare you.

 

I wish more people did things like that, the action you and the store manager took might have saved this childs life. So many people are too lazy to get involved...astonishing when its the life of an innocent child at stake.

[tizz]

They should have put the fucker in a giant paint shaker to test the effects of shaken baby syndrome.

[bleedingheartnot]

oh just bloody great, at last found a site where i can voice my opinion about the mother fucker who killed that child and not be banned from the site, or have legal action threatened against me or have a shit load of abuse from bloody bleeding hearts asking us to ''pray for him'' may he rest in peace'' my he rot in hell, mothers should have, well real mothers, should have been let lose on him, lethal injection too kind for that, we put our dearest pets down with lethal injections no sick fuckers that shower with a 2year old little girl and than beat her to a pulp claiming he ''got a tad rough''..............

so glad he got what he deserved but still feel justice not served.

[WullieTheRed]

In the fucked up UK, this arsehole would be imprisoned for about 8 years, then he'd be out, and quite probably do something like it again.

 

Aye, he'd get 8 years and be let out after 6 months for good behaviour. Rawk n Roll n stuff

[Lethalfind]

oh just bloody great, at last found a site where i can voice my opinion about the mother fucker who killed that child and not be banned from the site, or have legal action threatened against me or have a shit load of abuse from bloody bleeding hearts asking us to ''pray for him'' may he rest in peace'' my he rot in hell, mothers should have, well real mothers, should have been let lose on him, lethal injection too kind for that, we put our dearest pets down with lethal injections no sick fuckers that shower with a 2year old little girl and than beat her to a pulp claiming he ''got a tad rough''..............

so glad he got what he deserved but still feel justice not served.

 

I know what you mean, he needs to be dead but that doesn't bring the innocent child back...it doesn't seem enough somehow.

I always like to hear how people like this get let loose in the general population at prison have the shit beaten out of them, even prisoners have a code, they don't appreciate peices of shit who abuse children.

[slip_knot]

RO says:

I glanced back toward the man and the boy. I observed the man let go of the boy and then he sent a roundhouse kick to the back of the boy's head

 

How cowardly. I know kids can be hard work, but I have never hit one.

 

I remember once seeing a woman slap a boy across the face quite hard for no reason whatsoever. She was drunk in a pub with a guy who was also drunk.

 

The boys crime I guess, was to remind the mother of his father, another guy, not the one she was with. The one she had come to hate, and so the ex's boy child gets it...

 

And if shes doing that in public, ifs frightening to think what is going on behind closed doors

[snafu]

RO says:

I glanced back toward the man and the boy. I observed the man let go of the boy and then he sent a roundhouse kick to the back of the boy's head

 

How cowardly. I know kids can be hard work, but I have never hit one.

 

I remember once seeing a woman slap a boy across the face quite hard for no reason whatsoever. She was drunk in a pub with a guy who was also drunk.

 

The boys crime I guess, was to remind the mother of his father, another guy, not the one she was with. The one she had come to hate, and so the ex's boy child gets it...

 

And if shes doing that in public, ifs frightening to think what is going on behind closed doors

 

Why was the kid in a pub? What did you do? If someone is punishing their kid for being a brat is one thing. Smaking him around under the influence could be serious. I would've called the cops. You could've been reading about the kid in the papers the next day.

[tiredofwhiners]

Why was the kid in a pub? What did you do? If someone is punishing their kid for being a brat is one thing. Smaking him around under the influence could be serious. I would've called the cops. You could've been reading about the kid in the papers the next day.

 

We were at Disney World a couple years ago. My wife went to the can at the snack bar, in the stall this lady was beating the hell out of about a 5 year old. She said there was about 5 lady's just staring at the stall door, she went up and beat on the door. The lady said "what" wife said is there a problem, lady says "NO" wife says open the door. By this time she had to stop because my wife was bothering her, she wouldn't open it so the wife ran out and got Minnie no i mean a security person, and they went in and got her out and went somewhere. Who knows how bad it would of got if somebody wouldn't have stepped in.

 

So now if the kids act up we tell them "don't make me go Disney on you".

[RoyalOrleans]

RO says:

I glanced back toward the man and the boy. I observed the man let go of the boy and then he sent a roundhouse kick to the back of the boy's head

 

How cowardly. I know kids can be hard work, but I have never hit one.

 

I remember once seeing a woman slap a boy across the face quite hard for no reason whatsoever. She was drunk in a pub with a guy who was also drunk.

 

The boys crime I guess, was to remind the mother of his father, another guy, not the one she was with. The one she had come to hate, and so the ex's boy child gets it...

 

And if shes doing that in public, ifs frightening to think what is going on behind closed doors

 

I thought you mastered the "Quote" button?

[Lethalfind]

RO says:

I glanced back toward the man and the boy. I observed the man let go of the boy and then he sent a roundhouse kick to the back of the boy's head

 

How cowardly. I know kids can be hard work, but I have never hit one.

 

I remember once seeing a woman slap a boy across the face quite hard for no reason whatsoever. She was drunk in a pub with a guy who was also drunk.

 

The boys crime I guess, was to remind the mother of his father, another guy, not the one she was with. The one she had come to hate, and so the ex's boy child gets it...

 

And if shes doing that in public, ifs frightening to think what is going on behind closed doors

 

Even the nicest well behaved child can be difficult to deal with at times, its a HUGE adjustment from being only responsible for yourself...thats why I often suggest to people who have no children who are thinking of having one, that they borrow a child for an entire weekend from a friend so they can have some idea of what their getting into...People take for granted having children, they approach it like their getting a puppy...Having a child is not about cementing a relationship...you better hope you have already done that before you bring a child into the equation.