Death Row Inmate John Henry Ramirez Apologizes to Victim’s Family in Final Words Before Execution

A Texas death row inmate used his final moments to express remorse to the family of the man he killed nearly two decades earlier, offering an apology shortly before his execution on October 5, 2022.

John Henry Ramirez, 38, was executed by lethal injection at the state penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas, after being convicted of the 2004 robbery and murder of Pablo Castro, a 46-year-old convenience store employee and father of nine.

The case drew national attention not only because of the crime, but also because Ramirez fought a legal battle to have his pastor physically present and praying beside him during his execution.

His Final Words Were Directed at the Victim’s Family

Before the lethal injection was administered, Ramirez addressed Castro’s relatives, some of whom were present as witnesses.

He acknowledged their efforts to communicate with him through the victim advocacy program and said he had struggled to find words that could offer comfort.

“I have regret and remorse,” Ramirez said, describing the crime as a heinous act. He expressed hope that his statement might help the family find some measure of closure.

Ramirez then turned his attention to his own loved ones, telling his wife, son, friends and spiritual adviser that he loved them. He concluded by saying he had “fought a good fight” and was ready to proceed.

His statement became a central focus of coverage of the execution, highlighting the complicated emotions surrounding remorse, accountability and the lasting grief experienced by victims’ families.

The 2004 Murder That Led to a Death Sentence

Castro was killed in July 2004 while taking out the trash behind the convenience store where he worked in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Prosecutors said Ramirez robbed Castro of approximately $1.25 and stabbed him 29 times before fleeing. Ramirez was eventually arrested after spending time in Mexico.

He was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death. The case remained in the courts for years as his legal team pursued appeals.

A Supreme Court Battle Over Religious Rights

Ramirez’s execution was originally scheduled for September 2021 but was delayed after he challenged Texas prison rules that prevented his pastor from touching him and praying aloud during the procedure.

He argued that the restrictions violated his religious freedom.

In March 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in his favor, allowing his spiritual adviser, Pastor Dana Moore, to pray aloud and maintain physical contact with him during the execution.

On October 5, 2022, Moore stood beside Ramirez and placed his hands on the inmate’s chest as he prayed. Ramirez was pronounced dead that evening, according to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

The ruling had implications beyond Ramirez’s own case, helping establish protections for condemned prisoners who seek the presence and support of spiritual advisers during executions.

A Family’s Search for Closure

Ramirez’s final apology did not erase the suffering caused by Castro’s murder. For the victim’s relatives, the execution marked the end of a lengthy legal process, while also bringing renewed attention to the life lost in 2004.

The case illustrates the difficult questions surrounding capital punishment: how justice is carried out, what remorse means after a devastating crime, and whether a final statement can offer comfort to those left behind.

Ramirez’s last words were ultimately a personal expression of regret and farewell. Whether they brought closure to Castro’s family is something only the family itself can determine.

Sources:

• UNILAD
• Texas Department of Criminal Justice — Official last statement
• The Texas Tribune