Christopher Wilkins, Texas

Christopher Wilkins, Texas

January 11, 2017

Christopher Chubasco Wilkins has been executed by the state of Texas on Wednesday, January 11, 2017. Christopher was 48 years of age. He was pronounced dead at 6:39 pm local time, inside the Walls Unit execution chamber at the Huntsville State Penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas. He was convicted of murdering 47-year-old Willie Freeman and 33-year-old Mike Silva on October 27, 2005, in Fort Worth, Texas. Christopher spent the last nine years of his life on death row in Texas.

Christopher graduated high school and had previously been in prison in California. Before his arrest, he worked as a truck driver, backhoe operator, welder’s helper, and pipe fitter’s helper.

In October of 2005, Christopher Wilkins left the halfway house at which he was staying in Houston, Texas. Wilkins stole a truck and drove to Fort Worth, Texas. Wilkins attempted to buy some drugs from Willie Freeman, a homeless man. Instead, Willie and his supplier sold Wilkins gravel and laughed at him.

Willie eventually apologized to Wilkins, giving him some drugs to make up for the money he stole. Willie and Wilkins used drugs together several times over the next few weeks.

On October 27, 2005, Wilkins informed Willie that he had some drugs and guns stashed on the west side of Fort Worth. Willie enlisted his friend, Mike Silva, to drive them. Upon arriving at a deserted stretch of road, Wilkins shot Willie in the back of the head. Mike stopped the vehicle and attempted to flee, but was tangled in his seatbelt. Wilkins shot Mike once in the neck and twice in the head and dumped both bodies a short time later.

Wilkins was captured approximately one week later, after two high-speed police chases. Police also recovered Mike’s vehicle.

During his trial, prosecutors claimed that Wilkins killed a third man, Gilbert Vallejo, outside of a bar a day earlier. Gilbert and Wilkins argued over using a payphone. Wilkins confessed to Gilbert’s murder at his trial, saying that Gilbert had made him mad. Wilkins was convicted of the murders of Willie and Mike and sentenced to death on March 12, 2008.

Please pray for peace and healing for the families of Willie Freeman, Mike Silva, and Gilbert Vallejo. Please pray for strength for the family of Christopher Wilkins.

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