“Since the reintroduction of the death penalty in the US in 1976, more than 8,000 people have been sentenced to death.” ~Netflix, I am a Killer series.
I Am a Killer Episode 6 – Declared Competent
- Death Row Inmate #999866
- Daniel Lewis
In 1986 Lewis shot and killed 74-year-old Myrtle Ruby during a break-in. He was sentenced to death in 1987 and remains on death row over 30 years later.
According to him, his family moved around a lot as a child. The dynamics also changed frequently as well. He claims that there was no real parental supervision growing up. He was kicked out of the house at the age of 16. He began stealing then to survive.
He admits to issues with drugs and alcohol. He broke into places regularly while living on the streets. He never imagined that he would be up for the death penalty. He accepted the consequences of his actions in 2004. He states that he never intended to kill anyone that night.
Lewis is believed to have a below-average IQ. He was a loner growing up. In 2002, the Supreme Court ruled that it was illegal to execute the intellectually disabled. Their ruling defined an intellectual disability as an IQ of below “approximately 70.”
In 2006, after 20 years on Death Row Lewis appealed against his sentence. His appeal was denied. However, in Texas, a defendant only faces a death sentence, if found to pose a future danger to society.
I feel for Lewis, I feel he is genuine in his remorse for the crime. However, in my online search, I couldn’t find much information to make an argument one way or another for him. Want to take a deeper look into this after I finish up another project I am working on. I agree with the Supreme Court when it comes to executing those who have below-average intelligence. I also believe though that we should be testing to gauge how likely a below-average IQ offender is likely to reoffend. Unlike some of the other inmates featured on this show, I was not able to find a criminal record prior to or after his arrest.
I feel that sometimes bad things happen to good people who are in a rough spot. He was someone that was trying to survive, and a bad thing happened. He hasn’t continued to be a problem in prison, as far as I could find. I feel like there are so many vile monsters out there that deserve to be behind bars more than Lewis does. This case caused me to have some mixed emotions.
I give this episode a 4 out of 5 stars.