As the clock ticks down to his execution date, Steven Nelson, a man convicted of brutally murdering a Texas pastor, continues to proclaim his innocence. Set to die by lethal injection on February 5, 2025, this significant moment comes 13 years after he was found guilty of the horrific crime that shook the Arlington community and beyond.
A Texas man convicted of beating and suffocating a Dallas area pastor in his own church during a robbery was facing execution on Wednesday, the second scheduled execution in the U.S. so far this year.https://t.co/2V2BBrO1cb
— ABC 33/40 News (@abc3340) February 5, 2025
In a recent interview with NewsNation, Nelson expressed deep regret over the events leading to Rev. Clint Dobson’s death, stating, “My foundation might have been cracked 13 years ago but my foundation is whole now. I’m not the monster they say that I am.” His conviction stems from the chilling incident in March 2011, when the 28-year-old pastor was suffocated inside NorthPointe Baptist Church, alongside his 69-year-old secretary, Judy Elliott, who suffered severe injuries during the attack.
Prosecutors painted a harrowing picture of the crime, depicting Nelson as a predatory figure who coerced both Dobson and Elliott into tying each other up before inflicting fatal violence. Despite the presence of damning evidence, including blood from both victims on his belongings, Nelson maintains that he was merely a lookout and points fingers at two alleged accomplices, who were reportedly able to provide alibis that placed them far from the scene of the crime.
Compounding Nelson’s fight for justice, he claims that he sought to take a lie detector test prior to his trial, an opportunity he says was denied by the district attorney, who deemed him an “easy conviction.” He further asserts that his legal representation failed to pursue vital evidence that could have exonerated him. Attempts to delay his execution have also been rejected, including a plea to the U.S. Supreme Court, which further underscores the intensity of his legal battles.
During his time incarcerated, Nelson has sought to reach out to Dobson’s family, aiming to apologize for his perceived role in the tragedy. “I would apologize for the role that I played even though I was not the person who assaulted her,” he remarked, hurt by the church’s refusal to accept his letters.
The tragic aftermath of Dobson’s death has left a lasting impression on those who knew him. His widow, Laura Dobson, and his parents, Rod and Sharon Dobson, provided emotional testimony during the trial, vowing to keep Clint’s memory alive and stressing that he was “generous of heart, constant of faith and joyful of spirit.” Their statements served as a poignant reminder of the profound loss felt by his community.
Leave a Reply