Sells jumped up at the same time as Kaylene and situated himself between Kaylene and the bedroom door. When he began to grope Kaylene and touch her genitals, she snapped awake and yelled for Krystal to go get help. Seeing the girls asleep, Sells lay down next to Kaylene on the bottom bunk and cut off her underwear. Although Harris was out of town, the residence was occupied by five people on that morning: In one bedroom was Harris's wife, asleep with a young girl in another bedroom was a young boy and in one of the bedrooms was a bunk bed occupied by Harris’s thirteen-year-old daughter, Kaylene Harris, and her family friend, eleven-year-old Krystal Surles. Armed with a butcher knife, Sells explored the residence. Sells was familiar with Harris’s home, having previously visited Harris there. 31, 1999, Sells secretly entered the Del Rio, Texas trailer home of Terry Harris, an acquaintance of Sells. However, the Court found “the facts underlying Sells’s capital murder conviction are not in dispute” and summarized Sells’s murder of Kaylene Harris as follows:Įarly in the morning on Dec. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit noted that Sells’s case has garnered a substantial amount of media attention due largely to Sells’s claim to have committed as many as 70 murders in his lifetime. 20, 2000, the convicting court sentenced Sells to death. Following a separate punishment phase proceedings, on Sept. 18, 2000, a Val Verde County jury convicted Sells of the capital murder of thirteen-year-old Kaylene Harris. ![]() Media Advisory: Tommy Lynn Sells scheduled for executionĪUSTIN – Pursuant to a court order by the 63rd District Court of Val Verde County, Tommy Lynn Sells is scheduled for execution after 6 p.m. Sells then slashed the throat of the 10 year old. Sells slashed her throat and stabbed her multiple times, resulting in her death. ![]() Sells entered the residence with intent to sexually assault the 13 year old. Summary of Incident: On, Sells entered a Del Rio residence occupied by a 13 year old white female and a 10 year old white female. Wyoming Department of Corrections on a 2-10 years sentence for malicious wounding. Wyoming Department of Corrections on a 2 year sentence for vehicle theft. Returned as a parole violator with a new conviction of driving under the influence. Confined 8 months and released on parole on. Prior Prison Record: Missouri Department of Corrections on a 2 year sentence for felony theft. Native Country: Alameda County, California Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Executed OffendersĮducation Level (Highest Grade Completed): 08 Instead, the inmate is offered the same meal served to the rest of the unit. Texas no longer offers a special "last meal" to condemned inmates. He traveled by hopping trains and stealing vehicles and made money by working, panhandling, or stealing. He used the nickname "Coast to Coast" for himself to describe both his migratory lifestyle and his trail of killings. Over the next few months, Sells confessed to a string of murders all over the United States, spanning three decades. This confession was only the beginning, however. He went with police to the residence and gave a videotaped re-enactment of the crime, which aligned with Krystal's account. Sells confessed to killing Katy Harris and attacking Krystal Surles. Krystal survived the attack, identified Sells from a photopack, and testified at trial. Assuming that everyone in the house had been killed, Krystal ran outside to a neighbor's house and police were called. She fell to the ground, pretending to be dead as Sells walked out the front door. ![]() I won't say anything," Krystal said as Sells moved toward her. Katy saw herself bleeding and said, "You cut me!" Sells then moved behind her, put his hand over her mouth, and sliced her throat twice. Sells then turned on the light and moved to block the door. He sliced off Katy's shorts and underwear and began fondling her. Sells put his hand over Katy's mouth and brandished a 12-inch boning knife he had brought with him. 10 year old Krystal Surles was sleeping in the top bunk. He went to a bedroom, where he saw Kaylene "Katy" Harris, 13, sleeping in the bottom bunk. After closing time at a local bar, Sells made his way to the Harris home and entered through an open window. Left at home were Terry's wife and children, and the Surles children. Terry assisted Surles, a family friend, and traveled to Kansas to get their belongings for a move to Texas. Sells visited the Harris home several times, asking Terry for counseling about his marital difficulties. They attended Grace Community Church, where they made the acquaintance of Tommy Sells, a used car salesman, and his wife. Terry and Crystal Harris lived with their son and two daughters in a trailer home west of San Antonio. since 1976ĥ13th murderer executed in Texas since 1976 CST by Lethal Injection in Texasġ374th murderer executed in U.S.
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