Bio

Granville Riddle was born on June 17, 1969. He grew up in Stinnett, Texas. From a young age, Riddle showed signs of troubling behavior. He was involved in minor crimes and had his first burglary charge when he was only eight years old. As he grew up, his criminal activities became more frequent, and he faced multiple arrests for offenses such as drug possession, shoplifting, and auto theft.

In April 1988, Riddle was convicted for burglary and sentenced to seven years in prison. He served only two and a half months before being granted parole. His early release was partly due to Texas experiencing a shortage of prison space at the time.

Riddle had a difficult childhood and was described as a loner. He struggled to form friendships and was often in trouble. During his teenage years, he committed several burglaries, including one at a church and another at a restaurant where his mother worked. By the time he was nineteen, he had amassed a significant criminal record.

His life took a tragic turn on October 9, 1988, when he was involved in a violent crime that would change everything. Riddle's actions that night led to his arrest just weeks later in November, marking the beginning of a long legal battle.

Murder Story

Granville Riddle committed murder on October 9, 1988. He and a friend, Brad Bybee, had been drinking before driving to the home of 39-year-old Ronnie Hood Bennett. Bybee stayed in the car while Riddle entered Bennett's house with a tire iron. Riddle struck Bennett multiple times, hitting him at least 15 times in the head, which caused his death.

Initially, Riddle claimed that he entered the home through a pried-open window. He later stated that Bennett confronted him over this damage, prompting him to strike Bennett in self-defense. Riddle testified that Bennett made sexual advances toward him, and when Riddle rejected them, Bennett attempted to pull him down. Riddle asserted that he acted in self-defense but acknowledged hitting Bennett repeatedly with the tire iron.

After beating Bennett, Riddle sought to make it appear that the home had been burglarized. He and Bybee discussed taking items from the house. During the attack, a blow with the tire iron ended up embedding it in Bennett's head. In the aftermath, Riddle took Bennett's wallet and pickup truck, which was later found abandoned.

Riddle was arrested five days later after a witness reported his involvement. At the time of his arrest, he had already escaped from jail for three days, and he faced many other charges throughout his life, including several burglaries. In November 1989, he was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death.

Riddle remained on death row for many years and expressed remorse in his last statements before his execution by lethal injection on January 30, 2003. His final words included an expression of love for his family and statements about being a good person, despite the violence of his actions.