Texas - Hopkins finally has execution date

[Charlene]

Scheduled for execution in Texas on February 12th.

On July 31, 1993, in the early evening, the bodies of 18-year old Sandi Marbut and her 19-year-old cousin Jennifer Weston were discovered by Marbut’s parents. According to Marbut’s father, the girls’ bodies were found in their apartment, which was across the street from Marbut’s parents’ house. On the evening of July 30, 1993, Marbut and Weston had some friends over at their apartment, and Marbut drove the last guest home about 4:00 a.m. the next morning. It was alleged that between 4:00 and 5:00 a.m., Bobby Ray Hopkins entered the apartment and attacked Marbut, who was in the downstairs living room sleeping on the couch, stabbing and cutting her approximately 40 times. Weston came downstairs while Hopkins was attacking Marbut. Hopkins saw Weston and proceeded to attack her at the foot of the stairway. Weston apparently tried to flee upstairs but was overpowered. She died at the landing at the top of the stairs after suffering 66 stab wounds. According to the police, Hopkins began to search the bedrooms for money. Hopkins entered the bathroom and tried to clean the blood off his body. He took some towels to try to stop the bleeding from his wounds. He then walked down the stairs and exited the apartment. Later that evening, Marbut’s father found her on the living room floor and discovered Weston at the top of the stairs. Texas Ranger George Turner testified that on the evening the bodies were found, July 31st, he questioned several bystanders at the scene outside the apartment and, as a result, went in search of Hopkins. Apparently, Hopkins had been in the girls’ apartment approximately two weeks before the murders. Hopkins was there with two other men and got in an argument with Marbut over money that was missing from her purse. Marbut thought Hopkins had taken the money and asked him to leave and not come back. Ranger Turner interviewed Hopkins on July 31st, and noticed that Hopkins had cuts on his hands and arms. Turner also noticed what appeared to be blood on Hopkins’ boots. Hopkins allowed Turner to take the boots. Subsequent tests showed the blood on the boots was consistent with the blood of Weston, Marbut and Hopkins. On August 5, 1993, the police searched the area around the apartment and found two blood stained towels in a culvert between the girls’ apartment and the house where Hopkins lived with his parents. The towels belonged to the girls and were given to them by Marbut’s parents. The blood on the towels was consistent with the blood of Hopkins. Blood on hairs found on the towels was consistent with the blood types of Marbut, Weston and Hopkins. On August 22, 1993, a knife was discovered in the weeds outside the apartment on a route between the girls’ apartment and Hopkins’ home. The blood on the knife was consistent with the blood of Hopkins, Marbut and Weston. Serology testing of the blood stains in the apartment indicated that the blood was consistent with Hopkins’ blood. His blood was located in numerous areas in the apartment, including on a light switch plate in the living room, the living room wall, a sock, a bathroom rug and faucet, a shoe and a magazine in Weston’s bedroom, a newspaper article in Weston’s purse, the top of the stairway landing, and one drawer of a chest in Marbut’s bedroom. DNA testing of Hopkins’ blood indicated that it was consistent with the blood found on various items throughout the apartment. Further, Hopkins’ boot matched the footprint of a boot left in the blood on the carpet in Weston’s bedroom. Hopkins stated that he went over to Marbut’s and Weston’s apartment around 4:00 or 5:00 a.m. He and Marbut began to argue, Marbut got a knife, a struggle ensued, and he ultimately stabbed her. Hopkins admitted that he was cut during the altercation and bled in the apartment.

[Bubbles]

If he admitted this, why the long drawn out appeal? What took the courts so long.

Something needs to be done to streamline these appeals. It's become an absolute joke.. Even if TX is the least offender of this process...

[Deleted]

Sorry Bubbles,

We need to know about his potty training; was he emotionally traumatized about a puppy dying, perhaps he was victimized by bullying. Did you ever consider the possibility of post traumatic stress disorder from some bump on the head along the way. Was the jury informed of the exculpatory consequences of: drugs, alcohol, twinkies, PMS/Post Partum Depression (ok, just kidding on the last two). But, then again, the Europeans probably won't approve and we do so want to please them.

Most importantly, is he truely sorry for what he has done?