Bio

Derrick J. Sonnier was born on October 26, 1967, in Sulphur, Louisiana. He grew up in a challenging environment in Houston, Texas. 

As a teenager, Sonnier had limited formal education, attaining about 11 years of schooling. There are not many public records discussing his childhood experiences or relationships with family, suggesting that his background may not have been deeply supportive or stable.

Sonnier became an adult with no prior prison record before his later conviction. He held a job as a salesman, which included working at a car wash. During this time, he lived with his girlfriend and her daughter. They resided in an apartment complex in Humble, Texas, just two doors away from a mother named Melody Flowers and her five children.

In the summer of 1991, Sonnier became obsessed with Melody Flowers. This obsession led him to stalk her, which caused distress to her and her family. Neighbors began to notice Sonnier's unusual behavior, including peeking in Flowers' windows and entering her apartment without permission. These actions would later play a significant role in the tragic events that unfolded.

Murder Story

On September 16, 1991, in Harris County, Texas, Melody Flowers and her two-year-old son, Patrick, were brutally murdered in their apartment. Neighbors found the scene when they heard Melody's one-year-old daughter, Morgan, crying at the door with blood on her clothes. Upon looking through an open patio door, they saw a pool of blood inside and called the police.

When officers arrived, they discovered Melody and Patrick in the bathtub, partially covered by a blanket. Melody was found to have been beaten, sexually assaulted, stabbed, and strangled. Patrick had been stabbed eight times.

Derrick Sonnier, who lived just two doors down, was quickly identified as a suspect. Witnesses had seen him in the vicinity of the apartment around the time of the murders. When police knocked on his door, Sonnier had a bloody towel wrapped around his hand and claimed he had not hurt anyone. Officers then discovered additional blood-stained items in his apartment, including a blouse belonging to Melody.

Sonnier was arrested and faced trial where evidence presented showed he had been stalking Melody for some time. He had intruded into her home on several occasions, causing her distress. The trial concluded with Sonnier being found guilty of capital murder and sentenced to death.

The legal proceedings continued for several years through various appeals. Ultimately, Sonnier was executed by lethal injection on July 23, 2008.