When we think of dangerous criminals, most people picture men. However, there are women in Texas who have committed violent crimes so severe that they are now awaiting execution. While it’s rare for women to receive the death penalty, Texas currently has seven female inmates on death row—a small number compared to the 196 total inmates facing capital punishment in the state.
Texas is known for its strict justice system, and regardless of gender, race, or background, those convicted of violent crimes face serious consequences. Here’s a look at the seven women currently sitting on death row in Texas.
The Seven Women on Death Row in Texas
1. Taylor Parker
- Sentenced: November 9, 2022
- Crime: Murdering a pregnant woman to steal her unborn child
- Age at Sentencing: 27
- County: Titus County
Taylor Parker was convicted of a horrific crime—she murdered a pregnant woman and forcibly removed the unborn child in an attempt to raise the baby as her own.
2. Kimberly Cargill
- Sentenced: 2012
- Crime: Murdering her babysitter to prevent her from testifying in court
- Age at Sentencing: 45
- County: Smith County
Cargill was found guilty of killing her developmentally disabled babysitter to silence her before she could testify in an injury to a child case.
3. Melissa Lucio
- Sentenced: 2008
- Crime: Convicted of murdering her 2-year-old daughter
- Age at Sentencing: 40
- County: Cameron County
Melissa Lucio’s case has gained national attention, as she maintains her innocence. A judge has since recommended that her conviction be overturned, citing withheld evidence during her trial.
4. Linda Carty
- Sentenced: 2002
- Crime: Kidnapping and murdering a 25-year-old woman
- Age at Sentencing: 43
- County: Harris County
Carty was convicted of kidnapping a young mother in an attempt to steal her newborn baby. The baby survived, but the mother was found suffocated to death.
5. Brittany Holberg
- Sentenced: 1998
- Crime: Robbing and brutally murdering an elderly man
- Age at Sentencing: 25
- County: Randall County
Holberg was convicted of stabbing an 80-year-old man nearly 60 times during a violent robbery. Her crime remains one of the most gruesome murders committed by a woman on death row.
6. Darlie Routier
- Sentenced: 1997
- Crime: Convicted of stabbing her two sons to death
- Age at Sentencing: 27
- County: Dallas County
Routier was sentenced to death for the murder of her children, but her case has been questioned multiple times, with some believing she was wrongfully convicted.
7. Erica Sheppard
- Sentenced: 1995
- Crime: Murdering a woman in her home to steal her car
- Age at Sentencing: 21
- County: Harris County
Sheppard and an accomplice were convicted of killing a 43-year-old woman in a brutal home invasion with the intent to steal her vehicle.
Breakdown of Women on Death Row in Texas
- Race & Ethnicity:
- 4 White
- 2 Black
- 1 Hispanic
- Counties:
- 2 from Harris County (Houston)
- Others from Smith, Cameron, Randall, Titus, and Dallas counties
- Most Recent Sentence: 2022 (Taylor Parker)
- Oldest Sentence: 1995 (Erica Sheppard)
Interestingly, Harris County—which includes Houston—is responsible for a large percentage of death row inmates in Texas, with over 25% of the male death row population also coming from the area.
No Scheduled Executions for Texas Women on Death Row
While multiple men on death row in Texas have execution dates set, none of the seven women currently have an execution date scheduled. Some, like Melissa Lucio, are still fighting for a case review or clemency, while others have exhausted their legal appeals.