Published: August 14, 2008 05:06 pm      

‘Texas Seven’ member faces execution

A member of the “Texas Seven,” a group of convicts who escaped prison and eluded authorities for over a month beginning in December 2000, is scheduled for execution today after 6 p.m.

Michael Rodriguez, 45, is one of the six surviving members of the “Texas Seven” who escaped the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Connally Unit and, while on the loose, murdered Irving police officer Aubrey Hawkins.

His execution will take place at the TDCJ Walls Unit.

According to a report compiled by Court TV Online, Rodriguez was already serving a life term at the time of the group’s escape, which took place on Dec. 13, 2000. He had been sentenced to life in prison for paying a hit man $2,000 to kill his wife in 1992.

The other members of the “Texas Seven” — George Rivas, Larry Harper, Joseph Garcia, Patrick Murphy Jr., Donald Keith Newbury and Randy Halprin — were also serving various long-term sentences.

On the day of their escape, during a time when there would be less surveillance in certain areas, the seven convicts overpowered and bound nine civilian maintenance supervisors, four correctional officers and three uninvolved inmates in an electrical room.

Disguised in stolen civilian clothing and using identification stolen from their victims, the group eventually drove away from the prison in a maintenance truck with weapons they had stolen from a guard tower.

The prison truck was later discovered at a Wal-Mart in Kenedy, Texas approximately three miles from the prison. It was at the Wal-Mart the group picked up their getaway vehicle, which authorities later stated was provided by Rodriguez’ s father.

Within the following two weeks, the group traveled through Texas on their way to Colorado, during which time they robbed at least three locations including a Radio Shack in Pearland, Texas and an Auto Zone in Pasadena, Texas.

On Christmas Eve, the seven allegedly robbed Oshman’s Super Sports USA Store in Irving, Texas. Hitting the store at the end of the business hours, the convicts allegedly held several employees hostage and stole $70,000 in cash and checks, at least 40 firearms, ammunition and clothing.

On their way out, Irving Police Department Officer Aubrey Hawkins arrived at the scene.

According to the Irving Police Department Web site, Hawkins had been dispatched on a suspicious circumstance call to the store and was the first to arrive.

After encountering into the group of convicts, Hawkins “came under a barrage of gunfire without warning and had no time to take evasive or defensive action.”

Mortally wounded, Hawkins was then pulled from his squad car and run over by the convicts.

Following the sporting goods store robbery, the group purchased a jeep and a motor home and traveled to Woodland Park, Colorado. They set up a temporary residence in the Coachlight Motel and RV Park shortly after, and stayed in the area for almost a month.

The trailer park owner finally contacted Texas authorities when a friend advised him that the group of travelers were likely the “Texas Seven.”

The next day, authorities captured Rivas, Rodriguez and Garcia, who surrendered. They then went to the trailer park to apprehend Halprin and Harper, but Harper committed suicide by shooting himself twice.

Newbury and Murphy, who had traveled to Colorado Springs, were found on Jan. 23.

Following their capture, the surviving six convicts were indicted on capital murder charges by a Dallas County grand jury on Feb. 1, 2000.

According to the TDCJ Web site, all those connected to the "Texas Seven" were sentenced to death for their parts in the death of Hawkins.