Story Created:
May 13, 2008 at 6:39 PM CDT
Story Updated:
May 13, 2008 at 7:28 PM CDT
HENDERSON COUNTY- For more than a week, family and friends of Deputy Tony Price Ogburn and Investigator Paul Habelt have been waiting for a verdict --- and sentencing in the Randall Wayne Mays' Capital Murder Trial.
Tuesday, the wait was over.
It took a jury eight days to hear evidence from the state and defense and come to a conclusion.
After almost three hours of deliberation, a jury sentenced 48-year-old Randall Wayne Mays to the death penalty.
Mays was found guilty of capital murder in the death of Henderson County Deputy Tony Price Ogburn on Friday.
Although the trial revolved around Deputy Ogburn, the verdict and sentencing provided relief for family and friends of Investigator Paul Habelt as well.
On May 17th, 2007, officers responded to a domestic disturbance call at Mays' home on County Road 2529 in Payne Springs.
The call turned into a deadly stand off.
Deputies Ogburn and Habelt were killed by gun shot wounds to the head.
Deputy Kevin Harris was shot in the leg.
Families on both sides were extremely emotional after the jury's decision.
Mays' two sisters, Linda and Sherry Ross said, "I do want to tell the family that we are very sorry. This has devastated our family as well. We are so sorry to the family."
Deputy Tony Ogburn's son Tony Ogburn, Jr. Says, "At this time, I don't feel that I can forgive that man. But, I know one day I will have to get to heaven. That's because I want to see my dad."
The judge says state law will automatically appeal Mays' sentence.
No execution date has been set .
Randall Mays had the last word in the courtroom.
He not only "objected" to the verdict, but said, "I'm sorry for your loss. The Ogburn family and the Habelt family. I apologize."
This could go down in the history books.
On April 6, 19-95, Mays' brother, Noble Mays Junior, was executed for capital murder in the state of Texas.
According to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, to date-- 6 sets of brothers have been put to death.
All of them committed crimes together.
The Mays' brothers committed separate crimes.
That would make them the first set of brothers to be put to death at different times, for different crimes, in the state of Texas.