Cedric Ricks Executed in Texas for 2013 Double Murder
HUNTSVILLE, Texas – Cedric Ricks, 51, was executed Wednesday evening, March 11, 2026, at the state penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas, for the 2013 murders of his girlfriend, Roxann Sanchez and her eight-year-classic son, Anthony Figueroa.12
Details of the Crime
In May 2013, Ricks stabbed Roxann Sanchez, 30, and Anthony Figueroa to death at their apartment in Bedford, Texas, a suburb of Dallas-Fort Worth.12 Sanchez’s 12-year-old son, Marcus Figueroa, was also stabbed during the attack but survived by pretending to be dead.23
Execution and Final Statement
Ricks was pronounced dead at 6:55 p.m. CDT following a lethal injection.23 In his final statement, Ricks apologized to the family of Roxann Sanchez and Marcus Figueroa, who witnessed the execution.4 He specifically expressed remorse to Marcus Figueroa, stating, “I’m sorry that I took your mom and your brother away.”4
Legal Challenges and Appeals
Ricks’ legal team filed appeals with the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing that prosecutors violated his constitutional rights by excluding potential jurors based on their race, citing the 1986 Batson v. Kentucky ruling.12 They presented evidence, including prosecutor’s notes obtained in 2021, suggesting a pattern of excluding minority jurors.1 The Texas Attorney General’s Office maintained that the jury selection process was “race neutral” and that lower courts had already dismissed claims of discrimination.1 The Supreme Court ultimately denied Ricks’ appeal.4
Background and Sentencing
Ricks was convicted of capital murder in 2014 and sentenced to death.4 The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles denied his request for a 90-day reprieve or commutation of his sentence.12 Ricks had fled to Oklahoma after the murders and confessed to a family member, who then contacted the police.4
This execution was the second in Texas in 2026.4
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