Texas is preparing to execute its first inmate of 2026 on Wednesday. Charles Victor Thompson, aged 55, was sentenced to death in 1999 for the murders of his ex-girlfriend, Dennise Hayslip, and another man, Darren Cain, a year earlier in the Houston area. The brutal incident occurred when Thompson forcefully entered Hayslip’s apartment, leading to the tragic events that unfolded. Cain was killed immediately at the scene, while Hayslip succumbed to her injuries a week later in the hospital.
Prosecutors with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office emphasized the prolonged wait for justice faced by the families of Hayslip and Cain, stating that they have been awaiting closure for over 25 years.
Thompson gained national attention in 2005 when he escaped from Harris County Jail during a retrial. His capture days later in Shreveport, Louisiana, fueled further media coverage, including an episode about his case in the Netflix docuseries “I Am A Killer.”
Currently, Thompson’s legal team is appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court to stay his execution, arguing that there has been a failure to allow Thompson to contest the evidence regarding the cause of Hayslip’s death. They claim that contrary to the prosecution’s assertion that she died from a gunshot wound, Hayslip’s death was due to medical negligence related to her treatment after the shooting.
The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles recently denied Thompson’s request to alter his death sentence. Prosecutors maintain that a jury has already determined Thompson’s actions led to Hayslip’s death and have upheld his conviction for capital murder based on existing state laws.
In a related note, Hayslip’s family had previously filed a lawsuit against a doctor for alleged negligence during her treatment, which resulted in a jury ruling in favor of the doctor back in 2002.
This planned execution is part of a larger trend, as Texas, once a leader in executions, has seen a significant decline in this practice in recent years. The state has four executions scheduled for 2026.
As Texas approaches this critical moment, the situation highlights ongoing debates surrounding the death penalty, due process, and justice for victims and their families.