The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has resentenced Randall Wayne Mays, a 64-year-old death row inmate, to life without parole.
Mays, who is intellectually disabled, fatally shot two Henderson County Sheriff's Deputies, Tony Ogburn and Paul Habelt, on May 17, 2007, in Payne Springs.
The Supreme Court's ruling stated that only individuals with an IQ above 70 could be executed, and Mays' IQ is 63. Benjamin Wolff from the Texas Office of Capital and Forensic Writs, who helped represent Mays, emphasized Mays' intellectual disability throughout his life.
“The evidence of Randall's intellectual disability is overwhelming. He has a 63 IQ. His intellectual deficits have been seen, and observed by others, throughout his life from childhood to military service, and throughout his adulthood,” Benjamin Wolff, the director of the Texas Office of Capital and Forensic Writs, said in a statement.
The Henderson County District Attorney's Office expressed disappointment over Mays being removed from death row, emphasizing support for the families affected by the tragedy.
“We stand ever faithful in our support of the Habelt and Ogburn families and our law enforcement family who must live with the effects of the horrible acts committed by Randall Mays on that day. While the justice they deserve, and Randall Mays has earned is now not an option, we gain small comfort in being able to say with confidence that Randall Mays will die in prison,” said District Attorney Jenny Palmer in the statement.
