Texas inmate to be executed for killing woman he set on fire inside Garland store

(The Texas Tribune) — Death row inmate Matthew Johnson is scheduled to be executed Tuesday evening for killing a woman he set on fire during a robbery in 2012 in what will be Texas’ fourth execution this year.

Johnson was arrested for attacking 76-year-old Nancy Harris a little over an hour after he walked into a Garland convenience store with a bottle filled with what was later determined to be charcoal lighter fluid and a cigarette lighter. Johnson dumped the lighter fluid onto Harris and forced her to open the store’s register before setting her on fire, according to court documents. Harris died five days later from her wounds, and Johnson admitted to police that he had set her on fire.

In testimony during his sentencing, Johnson said he had been under the influence of drugs and alcohol during the robbery and used the lighter fluid to scare Harris but did not intend to kill her…

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