On January 29, 2008, in Galveston County, Texas, United States, three-month-old Alijah Mullis (born October 29, 2007) was found dead along a roadside at Seawall Boulevard.
[2][3] On January 29, 2008, Travis James Mullis, then 21 years old, reportedly drove his car with his three-month-old son Alijah in the backseat after he argued with his girlfriend, Caren Kohberger.
When Alijah cried, Mullis strangled the infant, followed by stomping on his head several times, crushing his skull and leading to his death.
Alijah's body was subsequently discovered by a married couple, Jesse and Esmeralda Zaro, who were both searching for wildlife when they made the discovery.
[15] Born on September 20, 1986, Mullis was orphaned at about ten months old when his mother died, his father having abandoned the family shortly after his birth.
[5][16] After the age of four, Mullis often received psychiatric treatment for several psychological problems, including suicidal and homicidal behavior.
[21] On March 11, 2011, the jury took one hour of deliberation before they reached their verdict, finding Mullis guilty of murdering his son.
[36][37] On May 23, 2024, Mullis's death warrant was issued, which scheduled his execution to take place on September 24, 2024, which was four days after his 38th birthday.
[47] Shawn Nolan, Mullis' defense attorney, wrote in a statement that his client had "always accepted responsibility" for the awful crime he committed and that "Texas will kill a redeemed man tonight.
"[48] Jack Roady, Galveston County criminal district attorney, stated that Mullis' execution marked the "long-awaited fulfillment of a verdict rendered by a jury who heard all of the evidence."
Kayla Allen, first assistant district attorney, noted that the jury's verdict had been "affirmed by 13 years of post-conviction review by higher courts."
"Some acts are such egregious violations of not only the law, but of civilized standards, that society's only appropriate response is to impose the ultimate penalty on the wrongdoer," she said, noting that Alijah would have celebrated his 17th birthday the following month.