Yesterday, the State of Texas executed Steven Lawayne Nelson, a man convicted of the brutal murder of Arlington Pastor Clint Dobson. The Texas Attorney General's office stated that Nelson had received his death sentence from a Tarrant County jury and, after several years of legal proceedings, was put to death in Huntsville, Texas.

It was back in March 2011 when Nelson murdered Dobson during a robbery at NorthPointe Baptist Church. A woman who was present at the church was also severely beaten by Nelson. The situation escalated when Nelson was later found to have killed a fellow inmate while he was awaiting his trial for Dobson's murder. On the heels of the execution, Attorney General Ken Paxton was quoted saying, "After years of legal battles, Steven Nelson was punished for his heinous crimes and justice has finally been served," in a statement released by the Texas Attorney General's office. "My heart is with the family and friends of Pastor Clint Dobson, as well as the loved ones of every victim who suffered at the hands of this monster."

The case attracted attention due to the severity of the crimes and the legal challenges surrounding Nelson's capital sentence. While Paxton and his supporters called for the execution as a form of justice for the victims, the case sparked renewed debate on the use of the death penalty in Texas.

Paxton's statement emphasized the state's role in upholding the law and the significance of carrying out such sentences. "Ensuring that Texas law is upheld, and capital sentences are carried out is a somber responsibility.  Victims deserve justice and criminals who commit heinous crimes such as this must be punished," according to the Texas Attorney General's office. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice, the agency responsible for conducting the execution, has not publicly commented on the matter beyond confirming the execution took place.