On February 5, 2025, Steven Lawayne Nelson, 37, was executed by lethal injection at the Texas State Penitentiary in Huntsville for the 2011 murder of Reverend Clint Dobson during a robbery at NorthPointe Baptist Church in Arlington. Before his execution, Nelson addressed his wife, Helene Noa Dubois, who was present with her service dog. He told her, “It is what it is,” and encouraged her to “enjoy life.” Facing his final moments, Nelson stated, “I’m not scared. I’m at peace. Let’s ride, Warden.” As the lethal injection was administered, he mouthed the word “love” twice before being pronounced dead 24 minutes later.
Nelson had a history of legal troubles and maintained that he was merely a lookout during the robbery, blaming two other men for the pastor’s death. However, evidence presented at trial, including his fingerprints and the victims’ blood on his shoes, led to his conviction. His execution marks the second in the U.S. in 2025, with three more scheduled in Texas by the end of April.