July 29, 1997

Texas Death Row: Bobby West

bobby west

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Robert Wallace West, Jr. (read his rap sheet here), convicted of killing 22-year-old DeAnn Klaus in 1982, was executed Tuesday evening, July 29th, 1997.

“At this point, I’m not really quite sure that I know me…. Every third day I’m getting these envelopes with photographs and stuff in it. It’s like seeing myself again for the first time.”

— Bobby West (audio clip)

“I write to, like, 32, 33 different people every week … But they’re all business connections…. You’re a cause, something to rally around.”

— Bobby West (audio clip)

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With just 4 days left, we need a huge surge in reader support to get to our $400,000 year-end goal. Whether you've given before or this is your first time, your contribution right now matters. All gifts are 3X matched and tax-deductible.

Managing an independent, nonprofit newsroom is staggeringly hard. There’s no cushion in our budget—no backup revenue, no corporate safety net. We can’t afford to fall short, and we can’t rely on corporations or deep-pocketed interests to fund the fierce, investigative journalism Mother Jones exists to do. That’s why we need you right now. Please chip in to help close the gap.

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