Carl Eugene Kelly was convicted and sentenced to death at only 22 years of age after he and accomplice, Thomas Graves, robbed a 7-Eleven in Waco, Texas, and killed two young men on September 2, 1980. After stealing $30 for drugs, Kelly and Graves abducted the store clerk, Steven Pryor, stole his car and drove him out to Cameron Park. They shot him several times then threw his body off a 60-foot cliff. David Riley, a transient who was asleep in Pryor's car, was also killed.
After his conviction, Kelly spent the next 12 years waiting his execution. The efforts of his lawyers were successful at delaying it through the appeals process. Appeals were made that Kelly hadn't intended on participating in the killings with Graves, that evidence used in the trial were seized illegally, and that he was on drugs at the time of the crime that affected his judgement. Kelly was executed by lethal injection on August 22, 1993 at 12:22 a.m. Charles L. Brown, the former assistant director for public information, witnessed the execution. "My job was to witness many executions, it was not because I was so pro capital punishment," Brown said. "I didn't really pay that much attention to them."
Wondering where to go in 2020 for an amazing deal, to beat the crowds, or for a truly once-in-a-lifetime travel experience? These destinations are on travel addicts’ radar for rightfully hyped 2020 events, new offerings, and recent developments that make them a must-visit right now.
On top of the majestic scenery its long been known for, Montana is a newly trendy nature getaway celebrated for its expanding luxury hotel scene, culinary offerings, and shop-local boutiques, according to an American Express study detailing where cardholders are traveling in 2020. But Montana is also about to get more accessible than ever before thanks to emerging flight routes sure to stir up competition. Launching two brand-new seasonal routes to Big Sky country, American Airlines will fly from New York’s LaGuardia Airport to Bozeman and Kalispell, Montana, beginning mid-year and continuing through Labor Day. Take advantage of the new direct route before the secret gets out, and so that they’ll continue next year.
One of the cities featured in Booking.com’s travel trends for 2020, Urugay’s capital Montevideo is a stable and LGBT-friendly destination to visit in South America—a continent that’s seen dips in tourism of late thanks to political instability in travel destinations like Brazil, Chile, and Argentina. Travelers identified the city as a trending travel destination for anyone seeking an immersive, one-stop escape; according to the study, “over half (54 percent) of global travelers say they want to go on one long trip to a place that has all of their favorite activities and sights close together.” Montevideo’s offerings include beaches, nightlife, markets, theaters, culinary prowess, and festive Gay Pride Day celebrations in September.
Europe’s intensely overtouristed spots (Venice, Barcelona, Santorini) have new Eastern European hotspots to thank for stealing away some of the spotlight: Romania is making a name for itself as one of the top five most trending Airbnb booking destinations for 2020. The nation that’s home to Transylvania, Dracula’s castle, and well-preserved medieval towns nestled among rolling hills has seen a 298 percent annual increase in Airbnb bookings.