A 37-year-old Texas man, Steven Nelson, is scheduled for execution on February 5, 2025, after sitting on death row for 13 years. In a final interview, he pleads for mercy, claiming he is innocent of murdering 28-year-old Reverend Clinton “Clint” Dobson in 2011. He was convicted for the murder of Dobson after a robbery turned fatal inside NorthPointe Baptist in Arlington, Texas. Nelson admits guilt to participating in the robbery but refuses to admit he had any part in Dobson’s murder and the beating of the church’s secretary, Judy Elliot.
Steven Nelson vs. Texas
Death row inmate Steven Nelson was charged with capital murder and then convicted by a jury in 2011 for the assault and suffocation of Clint Dobson and the brutal beating of Judy Elliot. Elliot was found by her husband, who was unable to recognize her due to how badly she had been beaten. She was found lying face up with her hands bound behind her back. Thankfully, after multiple surgeries, months of therapy, and rehabilitation, Elliot survived the attack.
Tarrant County’s medical examiner, Doctor Nizam Peerwan, testified Dobson’s death was a homicide. He had two wounds on his forehead, and his other injuries indicated he was trying to shield himself from blunt-force blows. Dr. Peerwani attests the injuries Dobson sustained began while he was standing when he was struck in the head and, as he fell, another blow to the back of his head. Steven Nelson testified he went inside the church several minutes after his accomplices did and found the victims lying on the floor.
However, he admitted to stealing several of Elliot’s belongings, such as her car, laptop, and credit cards. He admitted to using the credit cards to purchase gas, clothes, and jewelry. Nelson maintains that two accomplices committed the murder, testifying that he went into the church five minutes after they did to find the victims on the floor. The prosecution argued that Steven Nelson was the sole perpetrator, and DNA from both the victims was found on his shoes by investigators. His defense attorneys countered that one of his accomplices appeared to have injuries that were consistent with the assault that took place. Later, clemency lawyers questioned the supposed alibis of the alleged accomplices.
The Death Row Inmate
Steven Nelson was raised in Oklahoma. He is a victim of childhood physical and sexual abuse and neglect. As a child, he was convicted of several crimes in Oklahoma and Texas. When he became an adult, he was convicted of theft and burglary in the mid-2000s. In 2010, he was charged with assaulting his live-in girlfriend with a deadly weapon. He got off easier than he should have, was placed on probation, and sent to anger management. Coincidentally, he was expected to report to his probation officer on the day Dobson was murdered.
During his sentencing for the murder of Dobson, prosecutors accused him of killing his fellow inmate Jonathon Holden in 2012 while he awaited trial. There were witnesses to account for why this might have happened. Prosecutors claimed Nelson strangled Holden with a blanket-made noose. While Steven Nelson was indicted for Holden’s murder, he was sentenced to death before being tried. Considering his history, his argument of “not being a lost cause” is quite comical.
Final Interview
Steven Nelson told NewsNation’s true crime show “Banfield” he deserves a second chance, as does everyone. He was only 24 years old at the time of the robbery and has had enough time on death row to reflect on his adolescence. He points the finger at two of his accomplices, claiming they were the ones who murdered the beloved reverend and brutally beat his secretary. He said, “I would like to apologize for my actions in the role that I played, even though I wasn’t the person who assaulted her.” He continued to explain, “It still hurts to this day that I couldn’t do anything at the time.”
Although clemency activists have fought for Steven Nelson’s release, nothing more can be done. He has exhausted all routes, and there are no more appeals left to save or spare his life. First Baptist Arlington made a statement after he was sentenced in 2012 in support of Nelson being put on death row. It said, “We now can confidently say that justice has been served, and we will support the decision of this court.” Texas may be condemning an innocent man to death, but we will never fully know. However, we know Nelson was present in the church during or after the murder and continued with his day as if he did not see a deceased person and a brutally beaten woman. So, he is confirmed guilty to some extent.
