Summary
John Allen Rubio, 46, was sentenced to death in Texas for the 2003 murders of his three young children, Julissa, 3, John, 1, and Mary Jane, 2 months, at their home in Brownsville. His common-law wife, Angela Camacho, was also convicted and is serving life sentences.
His execution by lethal injection is scheduled for Thursday 12 November 2026 at the Huntsville Unit. A judge found him competent to be executed in October 2026; that finding must be reviewed by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.
The crime
On 11 March 2003, John Rubio and Angela Camacho killed their three children, Julissa Quezada, 3, John Esteban Rubio, 1, and Mary Jane Rubio, 2 months, at their home in Brownsville, Texas. Rubio treated all three children as his own.
Prosecutors said the couple killed the children because they could not support them financially. Since his arrest, Rubio has said he believed the children were possessed by demons.
Both were charged with capital murder. Rubio was convicted on all three counts and sentenced to death. Camacho was sentenced to three life sentences.
Legal history
- 11 March 2003Julissa, John and Mary Jane killed at their home in Brownsville; Rubio and Camacho arrested
- 7 November 2003Convicted of capital murder on all three counts
- 8 November 2003Sentenced to death after a unanimous jury vote
- 24 November 2003Received on Texas death row
- 12 September 2007Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, by 5 votes to 4, overturns the conviction and orders a new trial, ruling that statements by his co-defendant should not have been used against him
- 2010Retried; convicted again and sentenced to death
- 2026Execution date set for 12 November 2026
- October 2026State District Judge Noe Gonzalez finds him competent to be executed; the finding goes to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals for review
Current status
The execution is scheduled for Thursday 12 November 2026 at the Huntsville Unit in Huntsville, Texas. Texas executions usually begin after 6:00 pm Central time.
In October 2026, State District Judge Noe Gonzalez found Rubio competent to be executed, ruling that he understands what he did and that he is to be executed for it. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals must review that finding before the execution can go ahead. At the hearing, prosecutors and Rubio's defence team said they had no further filings pending.
Any request for clemency would go to the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles and Governor Greg Abbott. Campaign groups opposed to the death penalty have asked them to stop the execution.
Sources
- Texas Department of Criminal Justice: scheduled executions
- KRGV: Rubio found competent to be executed
- KURV: Rubio declared competent for execution
- Wikipedia: 2003 Brownsville child murders (background and trial history)
- Death Penalty Information Center: upcoming executions
- Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty: scheduled executions (advocacy group)