In a tragic and highly anticipated turn of events, Steven Lawayne Nelson, 37, was executed by lethal injection on Wednesday evening for the 2011 murder of Arlington’s NorthPointe Baptist Church Pastor Clint Dobson. Nelson had been sentenced to death in 2012, a year after he brutally beat and suffocated Pastor Dobson, leaving him bound and lifeless inside the church.
The execution took place at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in Huntsville, marking the state’s first execution of 2025 and the second in the U.S. this year. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton expressed relief, stating, “Justice has finally been served after years of legal battles.” He extended his sympathy to Dobson’s family and all victims affected by Nelson’s violent crimes.
On March 3, 2011, Pastor Dobson’s body was discovered bound and suffocated with a plastic bag, bearing blunt force trauma to various parts of his body. Another church employee, Judy Elliott, was found critically injured. Nelson was soon apprehended after a brief standoff near the church. Robbery appeared to be the motive, as several items, including personal belongings from the victims, were stolen.
During the trial, Nelson admitted to planning the robbery, claiming he and two friends intended to “hit a lick” and rob whoever they found. Evidence, including Nelson’s fingerprints, his bloodstained sneakers, and surveillance footage, ultimately led to his conviction.
Nelson’s defense attorneys mounted multiple appeals, arguing ineffective legal representation, but the courts upheld his death sentence. Nelson’s final statement before his execution expressed acceptance and peace. “I’m ready to be at home,” he said, adding, “Give Monkey a hug for me.”
This execution comes after years of legal challenges and serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences for heinous crimes.
