John King signed Jasper, Texas DVD cover EXECUTED

This auction is for a DVD cover signed by the executed Texas convicted murderer John William King (11/3/1974 - 4/24/2019). During the early morning hours of 6/7/1998, John King, with accomplices Shawn Allen Berry and Lawrence Russel Brewer, invited a local African American man they knew to accompany them, picking him up after seeing him walking home. The four men would drive out to rural Jasper County. After what was initially said to be "a drug deal gone bad," the three men beat, stabbed, and dragged his body for about three miles. Forensic evidence very clearly suggested the victim was dead prior to being dragged. The Jasper County Coroner's Office worked in tandem with law enforcement, stating the victim was alive while he was dragged to add kidnapping to the charges, thus making the crime death penalty qualified. John King was convicted for his role in the hate crime and sentenced to death 2/25/1999. Russell Brewer and Shawn Berry were each tried and convicted in separate trials. Shawn Berry rejected a plea deal (offered by the U.S. goverment), was convicted at trial, and subsequently sentenced to life. Russell Brewer was executed 9/21/2011. Despite gross misconduct by prosecutors John King was executed 4/24/2019. He was 44. John King offered a final written statement: Capital Punishment: Them without the capital get the punishment. 

The Jasper dragging death case was largely celebrated in the press. King has been the focus on literary works, movies, and fictional Hollywood depictions. The Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles has an entire display dedicated to detailing the case, which continues to receive media attention to this day.

There are two interesting facts about the executions of both Lawrence Russell Brewer and John William King. Russell Brewer was said to have declined his final meal, thus creating a change within the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, dispensing with the customary "last meal" request. Inmates to be executed would be given what the prison was serving that evening, no special requests to be accepted. The truth is Russell Brewer left his bible in the prison transportation van, which had all of his phone numbers. Texas death row inmates are not allowed to use the phone, except in the hours leading up to their executions. So, you can image having those numbers are very important. Officers gave Russell Brewer a choice, they would either get his final meal or his bible. Of course this isn't how the incident was presented to the media. Another change in policy came with the execution of John King, who gave a final written statement, "Capital punishment: Them without the capital get the punishment." Written statements are important as the State of Texas routinely misprints final words on their website. Without a final written statement they can basically print whatever they want. This only hurts surviving family members. After John King's powerful last words, the T.D.C.J. barred inmates from giving a final written statements.

ITEM DESCRIPTION: The DVD cover is handsomely signed, "John 'Possum' King." On the inside of the jacket King has written, "Life's a 'drag'... Trample the weak and hurdle the fuckin' dead... Texas Death Row -2009- John W. King." You won't see too many of these, folks! Jasper, Texas was a 2003 made-for-TV release detailed the Jasper dragging death of 1998. The movie is more fiction than fact. The DVD cover comes inside a protective magazine sleeve with an acid free board and has been stored flat. Message me with any questions you might have. Thanks for having a look-see.