Bio

James Russell, also known by the nickname Sugarman, was born on March 5, 1949. He grew up in a neighborhood in Texas. James was known as a charming and charismatic boy. Many of his peers liked him, and he seemed to have a sweet nature, which is how he got the nickname.

From a young age, James got into trouble frequently. He began with petty theft, like breaking into machines to steal quarters. His grandmother loved him deeply and often bailed him out of trouble. This support may have led James to believe that his actions had no real consequences.

Many people around him noticed that James had a sociopathic tendency. A Houston defense attorney, Brian W. Wice, remarked that if you looked for a definition of a sociopath, it could include his picture. Despite the support from his grandmother, James' behavior became increasingly reckless. His life took a troubling turn, and he eventually ended up in prison.

James Russell spent time in and out of the prison system starting at around 18 years old.

Murder Story

On March 19, 1974, James Russell, also known as "Sugarman," was involved in the kidnapping and murder of 24-year-old Thomas Stearns. Stearns was supposed to testify against Russell in a robbery case. Just one day before the trial, Russell and an accomplice named Lloyd Harris kidnapped Stearns.

They locked him in the trunk of a car. The two men subjected Stearns to severe abuse. They sexually assaulted him and took extreme actions, which included urinating in his mouth. Eventually, when they decided to kill him, they shot Stearns in the head at close range with a .38 caliber pistol.

Stearns' body was discovered 22 days later in a remote field in Arcola, Texas, located about 20 miles from Houston. He was a University of Houston student who had a wife and an 18-month-old daughter at the time of his death.

After the murder, there was a long investigation that lasted three years. During this time, Russell was convicted of robbery connected to the earlier case involving Stearns. He received a 50-year sentence, but this conviction was later reversed on appeal. This delay allowed investigators time to build a stronger case for the murder charge against Russell.

When the murder case went to trial, the jury took less than three hours to find Russell guilty of capital murder. They only took 23 minutes more to decide on a death sentence. Russell maintained his innocence, claiming he was being punished for associating with "bad people."

Russell's case went through the court system for about 16 years before his execution. On September 19, 1991, he was executed by lethal injection. Before his execution, Russell gave a final statement expressing gratitude to those who fought against his sentence and spoke about his family. He did not mention Stearns or his family during his last moments. His execution marked the end of a long legal battle that included multiple appeals and rejections of his claims.