Cameron County DA reacts to Supreme Court ruling on Brownsville death row inmate

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Cameron County District Attorney Luis V. Saenz is responding to a new development in a death penalty case out of Brownsville.

In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Ruben Gutierrez, giving him a potential path to have evidence tested that his lawyers say would help prove he was not responsible for a fatal stabbing.

Gutierrez has sought for DNA testing to prove his innocence after he was accused of fatally stabbing 85-year-old Escolastica Harrison during a home robbery in 1998.

The decision in favor of Gutierrez will allow the case to be remanded to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals for further proceedings.

Saenz has committed to bringing justice to Harrison and her loved ones throughout his career.

"We will continue to litigate on behalf of the victim and look forward to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, once again, denying his relief," Saenz announced. "The day on which justice will be served for Mrs. Harrison with Gutierrez's execution will come."

Gutierrez's lawyers have presented that there was no physical or forensic evidence connecting him to the killing. Prosecutors argue Harrison's murder was part of an attempt to steal more than $600,000 that she had hidden in her home.

Gutierrez has had several previous execution dates in recent years that were delayed, including over issues related to having a spiritual advisor in the death chamber.

In June 2020, Gutierrez was about an hour from execution when he received a stay from the Supreme Court.

Last July, the Supreme Court granted Gutierrez a stay of execution, 20 minutes before he was to receive a lethal injection.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.