Texas Executes Richard Tabler on February 13, 2025

Richard Tabler, Texas

Updated: Thursday, February 13, 2025

On Thursday, February 13, 2025, Richard Tabler was executed in Texas.  He was pronounced dead at 6:38 pm local time, inside the Walls Unit execution chamber at the Huntsville State Penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas.  Richard was 46 years of age.  He was executed for murdering 25-year-old Mohamed–Amine Rahmouni and 28-year-old Haitham Frank Zayed on November 25, 2004, in Killeen, Texas.  Richard spent the last 17 years of his life on Texas’ death row.

Richard was born in California.  He did not have a stable upbringing and was often raised by his sister who was only seven years older than him.  His father was uninstered in his life and his mother left when he was 10 years old.  Richard only saw her sporadically after that.  He was a poor student in school.  Richard had to repeat the third grade.  Before his arrest, Richard worked in construction and as a cook at a topless bar, which was managed by Mohamed–Amine Rahmouni.

Sometime in early November, Richard Tabler and Mohamed–Amine had a disagreement, during which Mohamed–Amine claimed he could kill Tabler’s family for ten dollars.  By November 18, 2004, Tabler decided to kill Mohamed–Amine on Thanksgiving Day, which fell on November 25, 2004.  That night, Tabler called Mohamed–Amine and offered to sell him some cheap stereo equipment.  They agreed to meet in the parking lot of a local business.

Mohamed–Amine was driven to the location by Haitham Zayed.  Tabler, along with his friend Timothy Payne, were waiting for them.  As soon as Haitham stopped the car, Tabler and Payne shot each man.  Tabler then went to the vehicle and pulled out both men.  Mohamed–Amine was still alive so Tabler shot him again.  Payne recorded the shooting on video.  Tabler stole a wallet and took a black bag from inside the vehicle. 

After the murders, Tabler called the Bell County Sheriff’s Office, claimed responsibility for the murders, and promised to commit another double murder.  He also showed the videotape of the murders to at least one person before he destroyed the tape.  Tabler also bragged about the murders.

Tabler claimed he had a list of employees from the bar that he wanted to kill.  On November 28, 2004, he targeted two teenage dancers at the bar, 16-year-old Amanda Benefield and 18-year-old Tiffany Loraine Dotson.  Tabler promised them drugs if they came with him. He took them to a lake where he shot them each multiple times, resulting in their deaths.  Tabler again called the Bell County Sheriff’s Office, bragging about his second double murder.  He also threatened to carry out more murders if the police did not shut down the topless bar.

Tabler was arrested on Sunday, November 28, 2004, on unrelated charges.  Police suspected that he was connected to the four murders and the following morning, he confessed.  He also named Paynes as his accomplice in the murders of Mohamed-Amine and Haitham.  Tabler later retracted his confessions and denied committing the murders.  

Both Tabler and Payne were charged for the murders of Mohamed-Amine and Haitham.  Tabler alone was charged with the murders of Amanda and Tiffany.  All were capital charges.  Tabler was convicted and sentenced to death for the murders of Mohamed-Amine and Haitham. He has not yet faced trial for the murders of Amanda and Tiffany.  Payne was also convicted for the murders of Mohamed-Amine and Haitham. Prosecutors declined to pursue capital punishment, resulting in Payne being sentenced to life in prison.  He is eligible for parole in 2044.

Pray for peace for the families of Mohamed–Amine Rahmouni, Haitham Frank Zayed, Amanda Benefield, and Tiffany Loraine Dotson.