Rick Rhoades, Texas

Rick Rhoades, Texas

Updated: Tuesday, September 28, 2021

Texas carried out the execution of Rick Allan Rhoades on Tuesday, September 28, 2021.  Rick was pronounced dead at 6:29 pm local time, inside the Walls Unit of the Huntsville State Penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas.  He was 57 years of age.  Rick was executed for the murders of 31-year-old Charles Allen, and 33-year-old Bradley Allen on September 13, 1991.  For the last 28 years of his life, Rick was on death row in Texas.

Rick Rhoades was born in Michigan and had a difficult childhood.  Rick’s biological father abused him. He was eventually given up for adoption by his biological mother, who claims she was tricked into it.  Rick was a member of the Navy, where he was court-martialed, receiving a sentenced of 90 days hard labor.  Rick has a lengthy criminal record including statutory rape, and burglary of churches, homes, and farms.  He once threatened to kill a club bouncer and was convicted for possessing a switchblade.  He often fled from the police and threatened them with violence during arrests.  Rick obtained his GED (General Equivalency Diploma) while in prison.

On September 12, 1991, Rick Rhoads was released from prison, where he served time for burglary.  Instead of reporting to the halfway house to which he was assigned, Rhoades took a bus to Houston, Texas.  Rhoades spent the day wandering around a neighborhood where he used to live.  During the early morning hours, Rhoades encountered Charles Allen and a verbal altercation ensued outside of Charles’ home.

Charles entered his home and, thinking he had gone to retrieve a gun, Rhoades followed Charles inside.  The two men began fighting, with Rhoades hitting Charles repeatedly with a metal bar.  Rhoades also stabbed Charles with a knife.  Bradley, Charles’ brother, heard the noise and attempted to intervene.  Rhoades turned on Bradley and began stabbing him.  Rhoades admitted he could hear the men gurgling as he left the home, after stealing clothing and cash.

The bodies of the two brothers were discovered later that day, on September 13, 1991. Police had no leads in the case for several weeks.  

A few weeks after the brothers’ murder, police arrested Rhoades while he was leaving a school he was burglarizing.  Initially, Rhoades gave police a false name.  However, he eventually told the police that he wanted to confess to the murder of two brothers.  Rhoades gave police information about the crime and claimed it was self-defense.

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals have both rejected requests to halt the execution of Rick Rhoades.

Pray for peace and healing for the families of Charles and Bradley Allen.  Pray for strength for the family of Rick Rhoades.  

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