Genaro Ruiz Camacho

Genaro Ruiz Camacho, Jr. (September 14, 1954 – August 26, 1998), aka Geno Camacho, was a cannabis dealer and organized crime leader in Texas who was linked to four murders and eventually executed by the state of Texas.

Gennaro Ruiz Camacho, Jr.
Born(1954-09-14)September 14, 1954
Mercedes, Texas, U.S.
DiedAugust 26, 1998(1998-08-26) (aged 43)
Huntsville Unit, Huntsville, Texas, U.S.
Cause of deathExecution by lethal injection
NationalityAmerican
Other namesGeno Camacho, Gino[1]
OccupationDrug trafficker
Criminal statusExecuted
Conviction(s)Federal
Kidnapping (18 U.S.C. § 1201) (2 counts)
Conspiracy to commit kidnapping (18 U.S.C. § 1201)
Use of a firearm during a crime of violence (18 U.S.C. § 924)
Texas
Capital murder
Criminal penaltyFederal
Life imprisonment
Texas
Death
Details
Victims
  • David L. Wilburn (aged 25)
  • Evellyn Banks (aged 31)
  • Andre Banks (aged 3)
    (son of Evellyn)
  • Pamela Miller
CountryUnited States
State(s)Texas
Target(s)In-debt drug associate friends and family; other
Weapons.357 Magnum [1]
Date apprehended
1989
Ellis Unit, the location of the Texas men's death row at the time of Camacho's incarceration
Huntsville Unit, the location of the Texas execution chamber

Crime

On May 20, 1988, David L. Wilburn, 25, who worked for Sam Wright, 57, and had a mental disability, unwittingly interfered when Camacho and two accomplices tried to kidnap Wright, Evellyn Banks, 31, and Banks's 3-year-old son Andre.[2] Wilburn was forced to lay down in Wright's home and was then shot in the back of the head, for no apparent reason.[3] After the murder, Wright managed to escape, but Camacho and his accomplices kidnapped Evellyn and Andre Banks and killed them three days later. After this, he fled to Mexico.

The FBI learned via an informant that Camacho had escaped to the town of Arcelia, in Guerrero State, Mexico. They requested that he be extradited to the United States. Still, the Mexican authorities claimed that Arcelia and the surrounding area were under the total control of heavily armed drug lords and that any arrest attempt would result in a bloodbath. Instead, the FBI set up a sting operation to lure Camacho back to the United States. Camacho was arrested as he crossed the border near McAllen, Texas.[4] He was convicted of the murder of Wilburn and the kidnapping and murders of Evellyn and Andre Banks (and that of Pamela Miller, a Dallas topless dancer, the reason for whose killing remains disputed)[5][6] and sentenced to death.[2] Camacho leaves behind a daughter and two sons, Theresa, Genaro, and Marco.

While on death row, Camacho was also convicted of federal charges for kidnapping and killing Evellyn Banks and her son. He faced federal charges under the Federal Kidnapping Act since they had been taken across state lines. Camacho was sentenced to life in prison on these charges.[7]

Camacho had a last meal of steak, baked potato, salad, and strawberry ice cream and was executed by lethal injection on August 26, 1998.[8][9] The execution had to be delayed by two hours, because of difficulties locating a suitable vein for the injection.[10][11]

Media

The 1988 search for Genaro Ruiz Camacho was the subject of "Cracking the Cartel," episode 4 of the second series of the Discovery Channel's The FBI Files.[12][13]

See also

General references

References
  1. "Camacho v. Johnson, – CourtListener.com". CourtListener. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  2. "U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit | No. 91-7084" (PDF). U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. 23 November 1992. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  3. "Security Tight for Camacho Trial". Associated Press. NewsOK.com. 20 January 1990. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  4. "Accused killer Comacho set for transfer to Dallas County". UPI. MCALLEN, Texas: United Press International, Inc. 3 April 1989. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  5. "Accused killer Comacho set for transfer to Dallas County". UPI.
  6. "Federal Kidnapping Trial Begins for Death Row Inmate". Oklahoman.com. June 25, 1991. Archived from the original on February 2, 2020. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  7. "Camacho". The Daily Oklahoman. 1991-10-03. p. 64. Retrieved 2022-03-22.
  8. "USA Executions 1998 (as of 12/18/98)". people.smu.edu. Southern Methodist University. 18 December 1998. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  9. "Texas Depart of Criminal Justice | Death Row Information". Texas Depart of Criminal Justice. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  10. Mervosh, Sarah (1 May 2014). "Botched Oklahoma execution could affect Texas inmates' cases". Dallas News. Retrieved 14 May 2017. Aug. 26, 1998 — Texas The execution of Genaro Ruiz Camacho, convicted of murdering a Dallas man, was delayed about two hours because of problems finding suitable veins in his arms — a common issue among botched executions.
  11. Tribune, Chicago (16 August 2014). "A history of lethal injection controversies". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  12. "The FBI Files | Season 2, Episode 4 Cracking the Cartel". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  13. Fine, Jeffrey (19 October 1999). "Cracking the Cartel". IMDb. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
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