John Rubio, Texas Father Who Beheaded Children, Sentenced to Die

(July 30) -- John Rubio has already lived longer between trials than any of the three children he beheaded in 2003. This week, the Brownsville, Texas, man was sentenced to die by injection.

The oldest of the children was 3 when Rubio, 29, and his common-law wife, Angela Camacho, murdered them, believing they were possessed by evil spirits. At least that's what they said at the time. Camacho later said the couple lacked money to pay for food and rent.

Texas Dept of Criminal Justice

Joh Rubio has been sentenced to die for beheading three young children.

Camacho is already serving three life sentences. All three children were hers. Rubio was the father of the youngest, a 2-month-old.

Rubio's first conviction was overturned in 2007 because statements from Camacho, who refused to testify against him, were wrongly allowed as evidence during the trial.

This time, he pleaded guilty by reason of insanity, but the jury rejected that argument.

Hidalgo County District Judge Noe Gonzalez, who has sentenced more people to death than any judge in south Texas, said Thursday that the case took a lot out of him.

"I have never seen a crime like this," he said, according to Texas station KRGV-TV. "I can't imagine anyone hurting their own children."

Rubio thanked the jury for listening to his side.

"I'm sorry it all had to come to this," he said quietly. "I thank the jury for giving me a chance to show what I could."

His attorneys said his difficult childhood and an undiagnosed mental illness manifested itself on the night of the killings, according to the San Antonio News-Express.

Rubio said he saw hamsters talking and growling as though possessed, and then the children. His delusions prompted the rampage, according to attorney Ed Stapleton.

But prosecutors pointed out that Rubio had sex with Camacho as they were committing the murders. He told her it would likely be their last chance, according to The Associated Press..

Police arrived to find the headless bodies of Julissa Quesada, 3; John E. Rubio, 14 months; and Mary Jane Rubio, 2 months.

The crime prompted an especially emotional reaction from Assistant District Attorney Charles Mattingly, whose wife is expecting their fourth child, according to the Brownsville (Texas) Valley Morning Star. "I think there is a special place in hell for Mr. Rubio," Mattingly said.