Bio

Michael F. Rosales was born on January 11, 1974, in Kit Carson County, Colorado. He moved to Texas at some point, where he lived in Lubbock. His life was marked by legal troubles. He faced issues with the law starting in his teenage years. He had multiple encounters with the justice system. He was convicted of several crimes, primarily related to theft and drug possession. His repeated run-ins with law enforcement suggested a troubled path.

By the time he was around 24 years old, Rosales's life continued to spiral. He had removed his electronic monitoring device and was avoiding his probation officer. This disregard for authority contributed to a lifestyle that would lead him deeper into criminal activity. 

Murder Story

On June 4, 1997, Michael F. Rosales committed a burglary at the home of 68-year-old Mary Felder in Lubbock, Texas. As he entered her apartment, he did not realize she was home. When she awoke and confronted him, he attacked her. He grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed her multiple times, totaling 137 stab wounds. He also used a hard object to strike her, resulting in her death.

After the murder, Rosales disposed of the weapons in a dumpster near the apartment complex. The police soon discovered that he was a suspect. He acted suspiciously at the crime scene and later confessed to the killing during questioning. He led the police to the dumpster where they found a bloody knife, a pair of needle-nose pliers, and a bloody fork, all used in the attack.

Rosales was charged with capital murder and the trial revealed the brutal nature of the crime, including the extensive injuries he inflicted on Felder. A forensic expert stated that Felder died from multiple stab wounds and blunt force injuries.

In 1998, he was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death. His appeals were denied, and he remained on death row until his execution on April 30, 2009, by lethal injection in Texas. His final words were directed to the witnesses present, expressing love and stating, "May the Lord be with you. Peace. I'm done."