Bio

Robert Dale Rowell was born on April 8, 1955. He faced difficulties at home, as his mother had been on medication for most of her life. This situation forced Rowell and his brother to become more independent at a young age.

During his childhood, Rowell was described as active and engaged in outdoor activities, like fishing with his grandfather. However, as he grew older, he became involved in drug use. He started using drugs at a young age, and by his teenage years, he was injecting heroin and using various other drugs. This addiction led Rowell to commit burglary and robbery to support his habit.

Rowell's criminal behavior started in 1973 when he began committing armed robberies. He was caught and sentenced to prison in 1974 at the age of 18. He received ten- and twelve-year concurrent sentences but was paroled after serving about four and a half years. After his release, he returned to his criminal ways and continued to commit robberies.

In 1980, Rowell was involved in a robbery spree that included a shootout with a Houston police officer at a restaurant. He was arrested while hiding under a car and was given a 30-year sentence. While serving his time in prison, Rowell committed a serious crime by stabbing another inmate to death with a homemade knife. This act led to a manslaughter conviction, adding another eight years to his sentence.

Rowell was eventually released from prison in June 1991 under mandatory supervision. For a short time, he managed to stay away from drugs and lead a more stable life. Unfortunately, he later returned to using crack cocaine, which drastically affected his life and behavior. He was reported to have been using around $500 worth of cocaine daily at the time of the events that would eventually lead him back into the criminal justice system.

Murder Story

In the early morning of May 10, 1993, Robert Dale Rowell arrived at the home of Irvin Wright in Houston, Texas. He was accompanied by a gun and the intention to get drugs and money. With the gun in hand, Rowell threatened Wright’s housemate, Raymond Mata, and Mata's wife, Angie Perez, warning them not to leave.

After going into Wright’s room, Perez heard noises and screams, realizing Rowell was attacking Wright. Wright was later brought into the bedroom, staggering and covered in blood. Rowell forced all three victims into a bathroom, where he shot them. Mata died from gunshot wounds. Wright was also critically injured but did not die immediately. Perez survived despite suffering serious injuries.

Police found Rowell shortly after at the auto repair shop where he worked. They discovered a .22 caliber revolver with spent cartridge casings and a bank bag belonging to Wright in his possession.

Rowell was arrested and faced trial for capital murder. He was convicted and sentenced to death in April 1994. His appeals were denied, and he remained on death row until his execution by lethal injection on November 15, 2005, at the age of 50. In his final statement, Rowell expressed remorse for the pain he caused the victims' families.