TEXAS LAST MEAL
ROBERT ALAN SHIELDS JR.
August 23, 2005

...bacon....

Last Meal: For his final meal, Shields requested fajitas with flour tortillas, shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheeses, diced tomatoes, diced onions, sour cream, pico de gallo, bacon, breakfast sausage, onion rings, French fries, barbecue sauce and picante sauce.

The skinny: Shields was put to death by lethal injection for the 1994 murder and robbery of his neighbor in a Houston suburb.

More skinny: Shields broke into the home of the victim and ransacked the house. When she returned home shortly, Shields repeatedly stabbed her and beat her with a hammer, then took the victim’s credit cards, checkbook and car keys, as well as the murder weapon and several other household items, and left in the victim’s car.

The victim body was found by her husband when he came home from work. Shields' parents lived next door. Hours later, Shields used one of the credit cards at a store to purchase clothing.

Shields, whose parents lived next door, was arrested three days later after police later spotting him driving the victim’s car.

Shields had cuts on his fingers and chin, and his underwear was heavily saturated with blood. Blood on the victim’s stolen checkbook were both consistent with Shields’ DNA. Shields’ fingerprints and shoeprints were found in the residence. Shields' mother testified at his trial that she and his father had changed the locks on their home at least twice to keep him from stealing from them.

Leading up to: In a letter posted on an anti-death penalty Web site, Shields described his prospects as "not looking good" and referred to his execution as a "state-sanctioned murder." Shields had previous arrests for burglary and auto theft, including an auto theft arrest in Florida where he and some friends were accused of driving a stolen car and shoplifting from there to Texas.

September’s issue of the monthly magazine Christian Network Journal features the only interview to which Shields would consent before his death. The magazine’s editor said Shields said he did not kill Stiner, although he admitted to being in the house when she died. The story also reportedly contains an account of Shields’ Christian conversion.

Last words and such: When asked by the warden if he had a final statement, Shields responded twice, saying, "No." His parents and his victim's parents were among those who watched the execution.

Shields' father, Robert Shields Sr., pointed toward prison officials and said, "Murder," following his son's final breath. "Murdered by the state." he said shortly before he son was pronounced dead at 6:15 p.m.

Factoids: Shields was the...

36th murderer executed in U.S. in 2005
980th murderer executed in U.S. since 1976
12th murderer executed in Texas in 2005
348th murderer executed in Texas since 1976