Man Who Killed Woman, Set Her on Fire Shares Unsettling Last Wish Before He’s Executed
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Matthew Lee Johnson, 49, was executed via lethal injection on Tuesday, May 20 at the state penitentiary in Huntsville. He was pronounced dead at 6:53 p.m CDT. Johnson, a Texas inmate, committed a heinous act by setting a great grandmother on fire during a convenience store robbery. This shocking incident took place exactly 13 years before his execution. Johnson’s victim was 76-year-old Nancy Harris.
In a chilling moment before his execution, Johnson addressed Harris’s relatives. He expressed remorse, saying, “As I look at each one of you, I can see her on that day. I please ask for your forgiveness. I never meant to hurt her.” Johnson’s last wish was equally disturbing as he stated, “I pray that she’s the first person I see when I open my eyes and I spend eternity with.” Reflecting on his actions, he acknowledged his wrong choices and decisions, accepting the consequences.
During the robbery at a convenience store in Garland, where Harris was working a morning shift on May 20, 2012, Johnson poured lighter fluid on her, stole cash from the register, her rings, two packs of cigarettes, and a lighter before setting her on fire. He callously grabbed candy bars before fleeing the scene. Harris attempted to douse the flames at a sink inside the store and sought help outside. Despite efforts to save her, Harris succumbed to second-to-fourth degree burns on her face, arms, hands, legs, and chest five days later at the hospital.
Johnson, in his 2013 trial, attributed his actions to being high on crack at the time of the robbery and admitted to the murder. He expressed deep regret, acknowledging the grave consequences of his actions, stating, “I hurt an innocent woman. I took a human being’s life…It was not my intentions to kill her or to hurt her, but I did.” Consequently, he was convicted of capital murder and received a death sentence.
The disturbing nature of Johnson’s crime and his unsettling last wishes have left a lasting impact on the victim’s family and the community. The tragic loss of Nancy Harris serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of violence and the importance of seeking justice for victims of such heinous acts. Johnson’s execution brings a sense of closure to the harrowing ordeal faced by Harris and her loved ones, while also serving as a somber lesson on the devastating effects of criminal actions.
The execution of Matthew Lee Johnson marks the end of a chapter tainted by violence and tragedy. While his final moments may have offered a glimpse into the remorse he felt, the pain inflicted on Nancy Harris and her family remains a stark reality. As society reflects on this disturbing case, it underscores the need for justice, accountability, and the prevention of such heinous crimes in the future. May the memory of Nancy Harris endure as a symbol of resilience and the pursuit of justice in the face of unspeakable horrors.