Texas Execution of John Balentine Reinstated for February 8, 2023

John Balentine, Texas

Updated: Wednesday, February 8, 2023

Texas carried out the execution of John Balentine on Wednesday, February 8, 2023.  John was pronounced dead at 6:36 pm local time, inside the Walls Unit execution chamber at the Huntsville State Penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas.  John was 53 years of age.  He was executed for murdering 17-year-old Mark Caylor, Jr., 15-year-old Kai Geyer, and 15-year-old Steven Brady Watson on January 21, 1998, in Amarillo, Texas. John spent the last 23 years of his life on death row in Texas.

John was born in Arkansas. He did not graduate high school, dropping out after the 10th grade. He allegedly had a violent and abusive childhood. Before his arrest, he worked as a laborer and auto mechanic. John had several previous arrests in Arkansas before he moved to Texas. He also served time in an Arkansas prison for burglary, kidnapping, assault, and robbery.

During the early morning hours of January 21, 1998, John Balentine entered a home by crawling through the window. He was armed with an automatic pistol. The home belonged to Misty Caylor and Balentine used to live there with her. Once inside the home, Balentine shot and killed Misty’s brother Mark Kaylor, and two others – Kai Geyer and Steven Brady Watson. All three teenagers were sleeping.

Balentine confessed to the crime after being arrested.

Please pray for the families of Mark Caylor, Kai Geyer, and Steven Brady Watson. Pray for strength for the family of John Balentine. 

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