Steven Lawayne Nelson, a 37-year-old Texas man convicted of killing a Dallas-area pastor, was executed Wednesday evening at the state penitentiary in Huntsville. His execution marks the second in the U.S. in 2025 and the first of four scheduled in Texas this year. Nelson was put to death by lethal injection and pronounced dead at 6:50 p.m. CST.
Nelson was convicted of the 2011 killing of Rev. Clint Dobson, a 28-year-old pastor, who was beaten, strangled, and suffocated with a plastic bag at NorthPointe Baptist Church in Arlington. The church’s secretary, Judy Elliott, 67, survived after being severely beaten. Nelson had been accused of taking part in the robbery and assault, but he claimed he was only a lookout during the crime.
In his final moments, Nelson expressed love for his wife, Helene Noa Dubois, who witnessed the execution. He told her he was at peace and ready to go. As the lethal injection took effect, he whispered “Love” before gasping twice and his body trembled briefly before all movement ceased. The entire process took 24 minutes.
Nelson’s case was marked by appeals of inadequate legal representation, claiming his attorneys failed to challenge the alibis of the two other men he accused of killing Dobson. However, trial evidence, including fingerprints, blood, and surveillance footage, pointed to Nelson’s involvement. His appeals were rejected, including a request for a stay from the U.S. Supreme Court.
Family members of the victims did not speak with reporters but released statements reflecting their grief. The Dobson family chose to focus on their memories of Clint, while Bradley Elliott, Judy’s son, expressed forgiveness for Nelson.
Nelson’s death follows a long history of legal issues, including an indictment for the killing of another jail inmate. Three more executions are planned in Texas before April, with the next scheduled for February 13.
