various courts including the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. In October 2005, his appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States for a writ of certiorari was denied. The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles voted 6–0 on November 1 to recommend that Governor Rick Perry deny a 90-day stay or a commutation to life imprisonment, which Perry obliged. It was revealed during the penalty phase of the trial that White had forced his own daughter to perform oral sex on him while penetrating her with his finger when she was 12 years old. He also offered her $50 per week to perform sexual favors for him. When White was between the ages of 10 and 12 he molested a preschool aged relative. Witnesses also said that he would hold parties for teenagers in the area at which he provided alcohol, and where he would grope girls' breasts. White blamed alcoholism for his actions. He said that at the time of the murder he was drinking half a gallon (2 liters) of vodka every three days, and that did not include what he would drink in bars. Execution He was put to death at Huntsville Unit in Huntsville, Texas. In his final statement, White said: Tell Beth [the mother of Jennifer Lee Gravell] and them I am sorry, truly sorry for the pain that I caused your family. I truly mean that too. She was a friend of mine and I betrayed her trust. I love you all. Tell Momma I love her. [He recites the Lord's prayer.] All right, Warden, let's give them what they want. During the injections White said that he could "taste it". He was pronounced dead at 6:21 p.m. CDT. He is buried at Captain Joe Byrd Cemetery. See also Capital punishment in Texas Capital punishment in the United States List of people executed in Texas, 2000–2009 List of people executed in the United States in 2005 References External links Media Advisory: Melvin White Scheduled For Execution from the Texas Attorney General 1950 births 2005 deaths 21st-century executions by Texas American murderers of children American people convicted of murder American rapists People convicted of murder by Texas 21st-century executions of American people People executed by Texas by lethal injection People executed for murder People from Crockett County, Texas