Steven Lawayne Nelson
Updated: 12/11/2025, 5:40:12 PM Wikipedia source
Steven Lawayne Nelson (February 18, 1987 – February 5, 2025) was an American convicted murderer, executed for the 2011 murder of 28-year-old Arlington pastor Clinton "Clint" Dobson in Texas. Nelson was found guilty of the murder of Dobson, who was smothered to death during a robbery bid at an Arlington church on March 3, 2011, and sentenced to death on October 16, 2012. Nelson protested his innocence and claimed that he only acted as a lookout while pinpointing two of his friends as the real murderers of Dobson, saying that the alibi of both his friends was not sufficiently rebutted by his trial counsel. None of Nelson's DNA was found on the victim. Nelson's grounds of appeal were rejected, and his conviction and sentence were consequently upheld. After exhausting his appeals, Nelson was executed on February 5, 2025, 13 days before his 38th birthday.
Infobox
Born
(1987-02-18)February 18, 1987Ada, Oklahoma, U.S.
Died
February 5, 2025(2025-02-05) (aged 37)Huntsville Unit, Texas, U.S.
Criminal status
Executed by lethal injection
Motive
Robbery
Convictions
Capital murderTheftBurglary of a Building
Criminal penalty
Death
Victims
1–2
Date
March 3, 2011
Location
Arlington, Texas
Imprisoned at
Allan B. Polunsky Unit
Tables
· References
Preceded byGarcia Glen WhiteOctober 1, 2024
Preceded byGarcia Glen WhiteOctober 1, 2024
Executions carried out in Texas
Preceded byGarcia Glen WhiteOctober 1, 2024
Executions carried out in Texas
Steven Lawayne Nelson February 5, 2025
Executions carried out in Texas
Succeeded byRichard Lee TablerFebruary 13, 2025
Executions carried out in the United States
Executions carried out in the United States
Executions carried out in Texas
Executions carried out in the United States
Preceded byMarion Bowman Jr. – South CarolinaJanuary 31, 2025
Preceded byMarion Bowman Jr. – South CarolinaJanuary 31, 2025
Executions carried out in Texas
Preceded byMarion Bowman Jr. – South CarolinaJanuary 31, 2025
Executions carried out in Texas
Steven Lawayne Nelson – Texas February 5, 2025
Executions carried out in Texas
Succeeded byDemetrius Terrence Frazier – AlabamaFebruary 6, 2025
| Executions carried out in Texas | ||
| Preceded byGarcia Glen WhiteOctober 1, 2024 | Steven Lawayne Nelson February 5, 2025 | Succeeded byRichard Lee TablerFebruary 13, 2025 |
| Executions carried out in the United States | ||
| Preceded byMarion Bowman Jr. – South CarolinaJanuary 31, 2025 | Steven Lawayne Nelson – Texas February 5, 2025 | Succeeded byDemetrius Terrence Frazier – AlabamaFebruary 6, 2025 |
References
- CBS Newshttps://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/jury-deliberates-sentencing-in-pastors-murder/
- Dallas Morning Newshttps://www.dallasnews.com/news/courts/2024/06/27/execution-date-set-for-man-convicted-of-killing-arlington-pastor-in-2011/
- Chronhttps://www.chron.com/news/article/texas-man-set-to-be-executed-for-killing-a-pastor-20148032.php
- Nelson v. State [2015], Texas Court of Criminal Appeals (United States).
- Dallas Morning Newshttps://www.dallasnews.com/news/crime/2012/10/15/update-mother-of-man-that-killed-arlington-pastor-testifies-in-sentencing-trial/
- Texas Department of Criminal Justicehttps://www.tdcj.texas.gov/death_row/dr_info/nelsonsteven.html
- Lubbock Avalanche-Journalhttps://www.lubbockonline.com/story/news/state/2012/10/17/man-convicted-texas-pastors-killing-gets-death-sentence/15125335007/
- McClatchy DChttps://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/crime/article24738796.html
- Dallas Morning Newshttps://www.dallasnews.com/news/2012/12/23/arlington-pastors-killer-admits-to-anger-problems/
- ABC7 Newshttps://abc7news.com/archive/8848767/
- CBS Newshttps://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/police-investigating-homicide-at-arlington-church/
- NBC Newshttps://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/man-who-killed-texas-pastor-sentenced-death-flna1c6498281
- Chronhttps://www.chron.com/neighborhood/moco/news/article/Man-convicted-in-Texas-pastor-s-killing-gets-9270451.php
- The Baylor Lariathttps://baylorlariat.com/2012/10/09/man-found-guilty-awaits-sentencing-in-dobson-murder/
- UPI Newshttps://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2011/03/08/2-charged-with-killing-Baptist-minister/37701299622038/
- Chronhttps://www.chron.com/lifestyle/houston-belief/article/Slain-pastor-s-church-looks-for-comfort-in-worship-1607581.php
- Chronhttps://www.chron.com/lifestyle/houston-belief/article/felon-arrested-in-death-of-arlington-pastor-from-1682636.php
- Ellwood City Ledgerhttps://www.ellwoodcityledger.com/story/news/local/2012/10/08/man-guilty-killing-texas-pastor/33341078007/
- CBS Newshttps://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/police-arlington-pastor-suffocated-2-in-custody/
- Chronhttps://www.chron.com/neighborhood/moco/news/article/Man-guilty-of-killing-Texas-pastor-was-teen-felon-9269768.php
- CBS Newshttps://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/fellow-inmates-testify-against-man-sentenced-for-killing-pastor/
- KTXShttps://ktxs.com/news/texas/witness-man-who-killed-texas-pastor-killed-inmate
- Fort Worth Star Telegramhttps://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/fort-worth/article3863717.html
- Fort Worth Star Telegramhttps://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/crime/article3870436.html
- CBS Newshttps://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/trial-for-man-accused-of-murdering-arlington-pastor-begins/
- NBC DFWhttps://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/trial-begins-for-man-accused-of-murdering-pastor/1933315/
- Lubbock Avalanche-Journalhttps://www.lubbockonline.com/story/news/state/2012/10/06/texas-man-stand-denies-killing-pastor-church/15127424007/
- NBC DFWhttps://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/defense-continues-in-texas-pastor-slaying-trial/2091115/
- Lubbock Avalanche-Journalhttps://www.lubbockonline.com/story/news/state/2012/10/08/man-found-guilty-killing-texas-pastor-faces-death-penalty-or-life-prison/15126843007/
- CBS Newshttps://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/suspect-takes-stand-in-arlington-pastor-murder-trial/
- Chronhttps://www.chron.com/neighborhood/moco/news/article/Texas-man-on-stand-denies-killing-pastor-at-church-9269567.php
- Dallas Morning Newshttps://www.dallasnews.com/news/crime/2012/10/09/jury-to-weigh-death-penalty-for-arlington-man-in-smothering-of-pastor/
- CBS Newshttps://www.cbsnews.com/news/rev-clinton-dobson-murder-felon-found-guilty-of-capital-murder-in-texas-pastors-suffocation-death/
- NBC DFWhttps://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/death-penalty-for-arlington-pastors-killer/1935438/
- The Spokesman Reviewhttps://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/oct/16/man-convicted-in-texas-pastors-killing-gets-death/
- The Deseret Newshttps://www.deseret.com/2012/10/16/20442005/man-convicted-in-texas-pastor-s-killing-gets-death/
- CBS Newshttps://www.cbsnews.com/news/rev-clinton-dobson-murder-trial-felon-convicted-in-texas-pastors-killing-gets-death-penalty/
- Dallas Morning Newshttps://www.dallasnews.com/news/crime/2012/10/17/arlington-pastors-killer-floods-holding-cell-after-receiving-death-sentence/
- Chronhttps://www.chron.com/neighborhood/moco/news/article/Murderer-of-Texas-pastor-says-he-has-anger-9282465.php
- NBC DFWhttps://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/man-condemned-for-arlington-pastor-slaying-loses-appeal/176001/
- Fort Worth Star Telegramhttps://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/arlington/article18655806.html
- Nelson v. Davis [2017], U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas (United States).
- Nelson v. Davis [2020], 5th Circuit Court of Appeals (United States).
- Nelson v. Lumpkin [2021], 5th Circuit Court of Appeals (United States).
- Fort Worth Star Telegramhttps://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/crime/article289581368.html
- WFAAhttps://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/steven-nelson-execution-date-arlington-texas-man-murder-pastor-clint-dobson/287-f88b7cdc-1fbc-43fd-8047-a524c11da2ed
- The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/05/texas-execution-steven-nelson-2025/
- Dallas Morning Newshttps://www.dallasnews.com/news/courts/2024/11/15/activists-plea-for-halt-to-execution-planned-for-man-convicted-of-killing-arlington-pastor/
- The Dallas Morning Newshttps://www.dallasnews.com/news/texas/2024/10/17/what-to-know-about-the-death-penalty-and-death-row-in-texas/
- Chronhttps://www.chron.com/culture/religion/article/christians-death-row-inmate-20038453.php
- Chronhttps://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/01/23/texas-execution-steven-nelson-clemency-campaign/76317405007/
- The Independenthttps://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/death-row-execution-steven-lawayne-nelson-b2692531.html
- The New Zealand Heraldhttps://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/texas-man-steven-nelson-on-death-row-breaks-a-little-part-of-you-every-day/WLKW6YSBYRAOPGPOLYDCPDBBSU/#google_vignette
- Dallas Morning Newshttps://www.dallasnews.com/news/crime/2025/02/05/steven-nelson-set-for-execution-today-in-2011-murder-of-arlington-pastor/
- Associated Presshttps://apnews.com/article/texas-execution-steven-nelson-c18f41a3e11c07362ee4f7db7f927f63
- USA Todayhttps://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/02/05/steven-nelson-executed-texas-clint-dobson/78228878007/
- USA Todayhttps://www.usatoday.com/story/news/state/2025/02/05/execution-texas-today-steven-nelson-today-death-row-murder-clint-dobson-young-pastor-wednesday/78246045007/
- Chronhttps://www.chron.com/culture/religion/article/christians-react-execution-texas-20151377.php/
- The Dallas Morning Newshttps://www.dallasnews.com/news/faith/2025/02/09/arlington-pastor-stays-silent-on-death-penalty-after-steven-nelsons-execution/