Bio

Karl Hammond was born on July 4, 1964, in Texas. Public prison records list Bexar County as his native county. He had nine years of education and previously worked as a construction worker. Before the murder of Donna Lynn Vetter, Hammond already had a criminal record. Texas prison records state that he had received concurrent prison sentences for burglary of a habitation and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. He was released under mandatory supervision on August 23, 1985.

Less than a year after his release, Hammond became involved in another violent crime. At the time of Donna Lynn Vetter’s murder, he was reportedly awaiting indictment on an armed robbery charge. This prior criminal history was later used as part of the broader picture of his background and future dangerousness during the capital proceedings.

Some later defense arguments claimed that Hammond had serious mental health issues, had suffered abuse, and had experienced trauma connected to violence in his family. These claims were raised by his appellate counsel, but they should be presented carefully as defense claims rather than fully proven facts unless supported by court findings.

Murder Story

On September 4, 1986, Donna Lynn Vetter was attacked inside her apartment in northeast San Antonio, Texas. She was 21 years old and worked as a secretary in the San Antonio office of the FBI. According to Texas prison records, Hammond broke into Vetter’s apartment at 4848 Goldfield sometime between 9:30 p.m. and 10:55 p.m. Police said he pulled the screen from the front window and surprised her inside the apartment.

Vetter was stabbed with a knife from her kitchen. She suffered a stab wound to the chest and was sexually assaulted. Other reports described additional wounds to her throat, stomach, and legs. She was found alive but died before reaching the hospital. Police were called after a security guard noticed that the front window screen had been removed. Investigators found evidence inside the apartment, including fingerprints. Hammond’s fingerprints were reportedly found on an end table and on the murder weapon. Federal agents assisted in the investigation because Vetter worked for the FBI.

Hammond was arrested and charged with capital murder. The indictment alleged that he intentionally murdered Vetter during the course of aggravated sexual assault and burglary. A jury convicted him of capital murder on March 30, 1987. A few hours after his conviction, Hammond escaped from the Bexar County Jail. A jailer left open a door separating a second-floor holding area from a visitation area. Hammond fled, triggering a major manhunt in San Antonio. He was captured the following evening after police saw him running across a street. He was returned to custody.

The punishment phase of the trial continued after his capture. The jury answered the required Texas capital sentencing questions in a way that allowed the court to impose the death penalty. Hammond was sentenced to death. Hammond appealed his conviction and sentence. On October 31, 1990, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the judgment. A rehearing was denied on November 28, 1990. Later federal appeals and clemency efforts did not stop the execution.

Karl Hammond was executed by lethal injection in Texas on June 21, 1995. He was 30 years old at the time of his death. Official Texas records state that he declined to make a final statement.