Arthur Lee Burton Texas

Arthur Lee Burton was executed by lethal injection in Texas for the 1997 murder of Nancy Adleman, after multiple appeals, including a last-minute plea to the U.S. Supreme Court, were denied. Burton's conviction stemmed from the brutal killing of Adleman, a 48-year-old mother who was strangled while jogging. His lawyers argued he was intellectually disabled and therefore ineligible for the death penalty, but this claim was dismissed by courts, noting he had not raised it until shortly before his execution. Sarah Adleman, Nancy's daughter, chose to honor her mother with a ceremony instead of celebrating the execution, emphasizing themes of gratitude and forgiveness. Prosecutors maintained that Burton's claims of intellectual disability were inconsistent with evaluations of his cognitive abilities. This execution marks the third in Texas this year, amidst ongoing debates over the death penalty and intellectual disability.