Bio

David Wayne Stoker was born on January 25, 1959. He grew up in Texas, where he lived in various towns during his childhood. As he grew older, Stoker became involved with a group of people who were known for their criminal activity. This group included individuals who used drugs and often carried weapons. Stoker took on the role of a gunsmith within this circle, repairing and cleaning firearms for his associates.

In his late teens and early twenties, Stoker had a few run-ins with the law that involved minor offenses. These issues may have set the stage for more serious problems he would face later in life. He struggled with substance abuse, which also connected him to the local drug scene.

His relationships with others in the criminal world would play a significant role in the events that led to his arrest and trial. As Stoker continued along this path, he found himself entangled with dangerous people. This connection contributed to the legal problems he faced later in life, and ultimately his execution in 1997.

Murder Story

On November 9, 1986, David Wayne Stoker was involved in the murder of David Mannrique, a 50-year-old convenience store clerk in Hale County, Texas. The case began when Stoker, armed with a .22 caliber pistol, shot Mannrique multiple times during a robbery at the Allsup's store. The robbery reportedly netted $96.

Stoker was arrested five months later after Carey Todd, a member of a local gang and a witness in the case, implicated him. Todd provided law enforcement with the murder weapon and claimed Stoker had given it to him after the shooting. As part of his testimony, Todd received a $1,000 reward from a crime-stoppers program, leading to questions about the truthfulness of his claims.

During the trial in October 1987, the prosecution relied heavily on the testimonies of Todd and other witnesses, including Deborah Thompson, who stated Stoker had bragged about the murder. However, significant errors were found during the investigation. Key evidence, including shell casings and a bloody fingerprint, was mishandled or discarded by police.

Stoker's defense argued that the evidence against him was weak, claiming there was no direct physical connection to the crime. They pointed out that the register had not been counted just prior to the robbery and only a small amount of cash was reported missing.

Despite these arguments, the jury convicted Stoker after a short deliberation. He was sentenced to death, insisting throughout the process that he was innocent.

On June 16, 1997, David Wayne Stoker was executed by lethal injection. He maintained his innocence until his last moments, stating, “I didn’t kill anyone.” His execution had witnesses, including several family members of the victim.