Texas Court Halts Execution of 'Desert Killer' David Leonard Wood

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has issued a stay of execution for David Leonard Wood, known as the Desert Killer, just two days before he was scheduled to be executed for the 1987 murders of six women and girls in El Paso. Wood, who has maintained his innocence for nearly four decades, was convicted in 1992 despite a lack of DNA evidence linking him to the crimes. His legal team has raised concerns over the integrity of his conviction, alleging that key evidence was withheld and that jailhouse informants testified against him in exchange for deals. The court's decision comes amid broader scrutiny of execution practices in Texas, as it follows another recent stay granted to a different inmate. While the stay is indefinite, the court has not specified the next steps in Wood's legal situation. This case highlights ongoing debates about the death penalty and the potential for wrongful convictions within the Texas justice system.