Bio

Michael James Perry was born on April 9, 1982, in Harris County, Texas. He was adopted shortly after birth. At the end of first grade, when he was eight years old, Perry was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). Later on, at the conclusion of seventh grade, he was diagnosed with oppositional defiant disorder. By the end of eighth grade, he received another diagnosis, this time for conduct disorder. These diagnoses indicated a pattern of behavioral issues that continued into his teenage years.

He often ran away from home, skipped school, and engaged in theft. He stole his mother's jewelry and the family van, and he caused damage in his neighborhood. Due to his behavior, his parents filed charges against him, leading to his commitment to a long-term healthcare facility.

In 1997, at the age of 15, he was sent to Father Flanagan’s Boys Town in Nebraska. His time there was marked by further issues, including threats made to staff members. After being expelled from Boys Town, he was moved to a secured high school, Casa by the Sea, in Mexico. He graduated from high school but did not complete the program at Casa by the Sea.

After leaving school, Perry struggled to find stable employment. He spent a brief period in the Job Corps, where he did some work related to tiling, and worked at Wal-Mart for a month. After these jobs, he became essentially homeless. Perry stayed with acquaintances and in shelters, but he struggled to find consistent work and support.

Perry's life continued to spiral downward after his teenage years. He faced legal troubles, including arrest for presenting a fake prescription for pills. Throughout his young adulthood, he became involved in substance abuse, using alcohol and prescription drugs.

By the time he was 19, he was in a precarious situation, navigating a cycle of homelessness and legal issues, which contributed to his later criminal convictions.

Murder Story

On October 24, 2001, Michael James Perry and his accomplice, Jason Aaron Burkett, committed a series of murders in Montgomery County, Texas. They went to the home of Sandra Stotler, where they intended to steal her car. Burkett knocked on the front door to ask for help, which gave Perry the chance to enter through the back with a shotgun. When Sandra answered the door, Perry emerged and shot her twice, causing her to fall. Perry and Burkett then wrapped her body in blankets, loaded it into a truck, and disposed of it in a nearby lake.

Later that night, they returned to the Stotler home. When Sandra's son, Adam Stotler, and his friend, Jeremy Richardson, arrived, Burkett and Perry tricked them into following them to a nearby wooded area by claiming a friend needed help. Once there, Burkett shot both Adam and Jeremy. After stealing the keys and wallet from Adam, they took the family’s Camaro and Isuzu Rodeo.

Following these events, Perry and Burkett were involved in a high-speed chase with police, where they crashed the stolen Camaro. They tried to escape on foot but were ultimately captured. Perry was found with Adam Stotler's wallet. During the investigation, forensic evidence linked Perry to the murders, and he later confessed to his involvement.

Perry was tried and convicted for the murder of Sandra Stotler and was sentenced to death. His accomplice, Burkett, was tried separately and received a life sentence for his role in the murders of Adam and Jeremy. Perry maintained that his confession was coerced, but the jury did not believe him.

After several years of legal appeals, Perry was executed by lethal injection on July 1, 2010. His last words included a statement of forgiveness for those involved. He was 28 years old at the time of his execution.