HUNTSVILLE, Texas – Angel Maturino Resendez, known as the “Railway Killer,” was executed on a hot June night after a murder spree that left at least 16 people dead in different states across the United States. Resendez declined his last meal and made a final statement, asking for forgiveness and acknowledging that he allowed the devil to rule his life. His method of murder involved sexually assaulting and/or robbing most of his victims before bludgeoning, stabbing, shooting, or beating them to death.
Resendez’s crimes spanned thousands of miles, with murders in Texas, Kentucky, Georgia, Illinois, Florida, and California. Investigators attributed these murders to Resendez, mainly due to his habit of “train hopping” from one area to the next and committing the crimes near railway tracks. Despite his petite stature of 5’6″, his victims were either small, elderly, or caught by surprise.
One of Resendez’s surviving victims, Holly K. Dunn, became an advocate for survivors of violent crimes. She recounted the horrific attack that killed her boyfriend and left her sexually assaulted, stabbed, and beaten. Dunn’s testimony played a crucial role in catching and convicting Resendez.
After a massive manhunt and a substantial cash reward, Resendez was turned in by his family. He surrendered himself at the El Paso bridge and was later convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of Dr. Cladine Benton, a case that involved overwhelming fingerprint and DNA evidence.
Mexican officials attempted to negotiate on behalf of Resendez to have him returned to Mexico, but then Governor Rick Perry was unwilling to give him up. Resendez was executed in 2006, six years after his conviction. The execution marked the end of a reign of terror that left a trail of devastation across the United States.