Bio

Robert Madrid Salazar Jr. was born on October 24, 1978. He spent his early years in Lubbock, Texas. Little is known about his upbringing and family life, including detailed information about his parents or family environment.

Salazar began dating a woman named Raylene Blakeburn in the fall of 1996. During their relationship, he would often care for Blakeburn's two-year-old daughter, Adriana Gomez, while Blakeburn was at work. At age 18, Salazar was still a teenager when he became involved with Adriana's childcare.

By April 23, 1997, Salazar had been a regular presence in Adriana’s life. On that day, Blakeburn went to work and left Adriana in Salazar's care, which was a common arrangement for them. However, later that evening, Blakeburn returned home to find Adriana unconscious, which led to a series of tragic events.

Aside from his relationship with Blakeburn and his involvement with Adriana, Salazar's early life prior to the events of 1997, including his education and background, has not been thoroughly documented in available public records. This lack of information makes it difficult to form a complete picture of his early years and influences leading up to the incidents that would later define him in the public eye.

Murder Story

On April 23, 1997, Robert Salazar Jr. was babysitting two-year-old Adriana Gomez while her mother, Raylene Blakeburn, went to work. When Raylene returned home, she found Adriana unconscious in her bed, breathing irregularly and bleeding from her mouth. Salazar was not there, as he had gone to buy beer with a friend. Upon seeing an ambulance outside Blakeburn's house, he did not stop but continued to his mother's house.

When paramedics arrived, they found Adriana unresponsive and noted that she had severe injuries, including a caved-in skull. They suspected child abuse and contacted the police. Adriana died later that evening in the hospital. After her mother called him, Salazar instructed her not to inform the police that he had been caring for Adriana.

In a written statement to police, Salazar admitted to being with Adriana during the day. He claimed that he had become angry when she would not stop crying during a shower and had pushed her with the back of his hand. He stated that this caused her to fall in the bathtub and hit her head. He fled the scene out of fear. However, the autopsy revealed that Adriana had suffered multiple blunt force traumas that were much worse than Salazar's explanation. She had several broken ribs, severe bruising, and her injuries were consistent with sexual penetration.

Salazar was arrested the day after the incident. He was indicted for capital murder and, in March 1999, was found guilty and sentenced to death. His conviction was upheld by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in January 2001. Salazar spent several years on death row, filing multiple appeals that were ultimately denied.

On March 22, 2006, Robert Salazar Jr. was executed by lethal injection in Texas. His final meal consisted of various items, including a dozen tamales and hard shell tacos. In his last statement, he expressed love for his family and apologized, saying he should not have been there. He stated, "I am sorry that the child had to lose her life, but I should not have to be here."