Bio 

Clifford Allan Kimmel was born on July 18, 1975, in San Antonio, Texas, Kimmel grew up in Bexar County. He was raised by his parents, Artrecia and Elijah Kimmel, alongside three siblings. His education ended early, leaving school after completing the eighth grade. As a young adult, he struggled with a long-term, severe drug problem and found employment working primarily as a laborer.

Kimmel's contact with law enforcement began before adulthood. His lengthy juvenile and adult record included arrests and convictions for shoplifting and criminal trespass, unlawfully carrying a weaponIndecency with a child, multiple home burglaries. His behavior continued to spiral when he attempted to break into his own parents' home while on adult probation. 

After testing positive for marijuana, walking away from a restitution center, and violating his probation terms, he was sentenced to six years in prison in April 1997. He served 19 months before being released on mandatory supervision in November 1998. Within two months of his release, he absconded from a halfway house after testing positive for cocaine and marijuana.

On May 18, 1999, just six months after his release from prison, Kimmel and an accomplice, Derek Murphy, forced their way into a San Antonio apartment to commit a robbery. They tied up the occupants, Rachel White, Susan Halverstadt, and Brent Roe. In a horrific escalation, Kimmel and Murphy injected two of the victims with toxic bathroom cleaning fluid before stabbing all three to death. 

They fled with a stereo, a VCR, jewelry, and credit cards, which they immediately used to purchase beer. Five weeks later, detectives tracked the stolen credit card charges and arrested Kimmel on a parole violation. He gave a full, written confession two days later.

Kimmel pleaded guilty to capital murder in February 2000. During the trial's punishment phase, his defense attorneys argued for a life sentence by highlighting his severe addiction and showing that he was remorseful. However, the jury sentenced him to death. His accomplice, Derek Murphy, received life in prison.

After exhausting his legal appeals, Kimmel offered no final words before he was executed by lethal injection at the Huntsville Unit on September 20, 2007. 

Murder Story

On the evening of April 9, 1999, Clifford Allan Kimmel and co-defendant Derek, also reported as Derrick, Murphy went to the San Antonio apartment of Rachel White. White was 22 years old and knew them. Susan Halverstadt, also 22, and Brett Roe, 29, were inside the apartment with her. Kimmel and Murphy had gone there intending to commit robbery.

Kimmel and Murphy waited until several other people left the apartment. They then approached the door and asked to use the phone. Once inside, Murphy pointed a gun at White, Halverstadt, and Roe. The victims’ hands were tied with rope. Murphy took White into the bathroom and demanded to know where she kept her money. When she resisted, Kimmel injected her arm with a syringe containing cleaning fluid. Murphy then smothered her with a pillow until she stopped struggling and cut her neck.

Kimmel then injected Roe with cleaning fluid. Roe tried to run toward the front door, but Kimmel and Murphy tackled him. Kimmel stabbed Roe in the chest. Murphy then took the knife, cut Roe’s throat, and stabbed him repeatedly while Kimmel held his legs. Murphy also stabbed Halverstadt.

Kimmel and Murphy returned to the bathroom, where White was still alive and gasping for air. According to Kimmel’s later account, White pleaded for help and asked why he was doing it. Kimmel responded that he did not know why. Murphy then sat on White’s chest and stabbed her in the chest and throat. All three victims died from their injuries.

After the killings, Kimmel and Murphy stole property from the apartment, including a stereo, VCR, White’s purse, Roe’s wallet, a jewelry box, CDs, and other items. They later sold some of the stolen property and used White’s credit card at gas stations and a hotel, where they held a party the following night.

The victims’ bodies were found days later after friends became concerned that no one had heard from them. Investigators traced purchases made with one of the stolen credit cards. Kimmel was arrested on May 18, 1999, on a parole-revocation warrant. He initially denied involvement, but two days later, after Murphy gave police a statement, Kimmel admitted participating in the killings.

On August 11, 1999, a Bexar County grand jury indicted Kimmel on six counts of capital murder. On February 14, 2000, shortly before trial, he pleaded guilty. A separate punishment phase followed, and on February 18, 2000, the jury sentenced him to death. Murphy later received a life sentence for his role in the murders.

Kimmel’s conviction and death sentence were affirmed by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on November 7, 2001. Later state and federal appeals were denied, including a Fifth Circuit decision denying a certificate of appealability in 2006.

Clifford Allan Kimmel was executed by lethal injection in Huntsville, Texas, on September 20, 2007. He was 32 years old. He declined to make a final statement and was pronounced dead at 6:18 p.m.