By Robert A. Waters
After Matthew Johnson was sentenced to death for the murder of Nancy Harris, her son Christopher looked him in the eye and said, "I hope the screams of my mother tear at your soul for eternity."
The time has finally come for whatever justice humans can deliver. Johnson is scheduled to be executed in the Texas death chamber on May 20.
Nancy Harris had worked at the Fina Whip convenience store in Garland, Texas for many years. On the morning of May 20, 2012, the seventy-six-year-old mother and grandmother opened up at 7:00 A.M. Videotape shows everything that happened in the next few minutes.
Matthew Lee Johnson entered the store shortly after Harris. Court records state that he was "carrying a cigarette lighter and a bottle containing what was later determined to be lighter fluid. [Johnson] walked around the sales counter into the employees-only area where Harris was standing. He poured the fluid over Harris's head, demanded money, and stood immediately behind her as she attempted to open the cash register."
Johnson grabbed two packs of cigarettes and two more lighters. Documents read that "he also attempted to remove Harris's ring. When it did not come off, [Johnson] licked his fingers, used the moisture to lubricate the ring and Harris's finger, and worked the ring off."
By this time, Nancy had opened the register. Johnson reached in and pulled out $76.00 in bills. Not wanting to leave anything behind, he also scooped up the few coins he found in the tray.
Then, before leaving, Johnson clicked a lighter and held it to Harris's head. Her hair exploded in flames, and, as Johnson left, she ran to the back of the store to a nearby sink. Video shows her hair on fire and the flames crawling down to her shoulders. Using water from the faucet, she attempted to put out the flames but was unsuccessful.
In fact, the blaze got worse. Documents describe the scene: "Harris leaned over the sink, attempting to extinguish the flames. When that attempt failed, Harris removed her burning shirt and dropped it to the floor, but her brassiere remained on fire. As Harris leaned over the sink again, flames from the still-burning shirt ignited her pants leg. She was unable to extinguish the flames. Still on fire, she made her way out of the store and began screaming for help."
As this was happening, Johnson nonchalantly grabbed a couple of candy bars and walked out the door.
Two police officers happened to be near the store and ran to help. Officer Billy Coffee grabbed a fire extinguisher from his car and put out the flames. He and the other officer called for backup and attempted to administer aid to Nancy. She kept screaming, "Help me. Help me. Help me." She also gave the officers a description of her attacker.
An ambulance quickly arrived and transported Nancy to Parkland Hospital. There, emergency room physicians determined that the patient had first, second, and third degree burns on her face, shoulders, abdomen, upper arms and legs. Staff quickly started the burn protocol, but Nancy's airway began closing. Medical personnel intubated the patient but had little hope that she would survive.
In the meantime, Johnson had retreated to a neighborhood behind the store. There, as he attempted to break into a home, he was arrested. In his pockets, cops located Harris's ring, cigarette lighters, coins and seventy-six dollars in bills.
In constant excruciating pain, Harris passed away three days after the attack. The medical examiner ruled her death a homicide, caused by "thermal injury."
Johnson had a lengthy criminal history, including many arrests for robbery, violating protective orders, resisting arrest, numerous charges for drug offenses, aggravated assaults, thefts, exposing his genitalia in a public place, and several counts of domestic abuse.
Johnson was tried and convicted of the capital murder of Nancy Harris. A jury voted 12-0 to give him the death penalty. A few weeks ago, his appeals ran out. Johnson is scheduled to die on May 20, 2025.
