As of October 26, 2025, Harvey Earvin will mark 48 years on Death Row in Texas, making him the longest-serving inmate in the state’s history. His time on Death Row began after he was convicted of the 1976 murder of a 75-year-old man, Ertis Brock, outside a gas station in Lufkin, Texas.
The Murder of Ertis Brock
On December 7, 1976, 18-year-old Harvey Earvin and his 15-year-old girlfriend went to the back of a gas station on Raguet Street in Lufkin. There, they encountered Ertis Brock, a 37-year veteran employee of Lufkin Industries, who was taking cash bags to his car.
Earvin, wearing an Afro-style wig and fake mustache, pointed a 20-gauge shotgun at Brock and ordered him to stop. Earvin later testified that he believed Brock was reaching for a weapon, and in fear, he shot Brock in the chest at close range.
Brock, who had worked for Lufkin Industries for nearly four decades, was pronounced dead at the scene. Earvin and his girlfriend fled the scene, leaving behind the stolen cash and a dropped gun.
A few days later, both were apprehended, and each confessed to the crime. Notably, Earvin later joked about the murder with friends and cellmates, as documented in the Texas Department of Corrections file.
Conviction and Death Sentence
In August 1977, Earvin was convicted of capital murder, and the following day, a jury sentenced him to death. The mandatory appeals process followed, but the execution date was set for May 14, 1986.
However, Earvin filed further appeals, particularly focusing on what he called ineffective representation by his counsel during the penalty stage of the trial.
Despite several appeals being denied, a stay of execution was granted in the late 1980s, allowing Earvin more opportunities to pursue his legal challenges.
Harvey Earvin’s Current Status
Harvey Earvin remains an inmate at the Polunsky Unit in West Livingston, Texas. After 1990, the details surrounding his appeals and legal status became scarce, and no updated execution date has been listed for him. As of now, Earvin continues to reside on Death Row, awaiting an uncertain future.