A Texas killer left witnesses stunned at his execution when he told them in his final statement: “That’s $5.”
Billie Wayne Coble was executed nearly 30 years after murdering his estranged wife’s parents and brother.
The 70-year-old, whom a prosecutor once described as having a “heart full of scorpions,” was asked if he would like to give a speech to the invited audience.
He replied, “That’s $5.”
“Yes, sir, that’s five dollars. I love you, I love you and I love you.”
“Mike, I love you. Where’s Nelley? I love you, that’s five dollars. Take care.”
As he finished his statement, the Vietnam War veteran’s son, Gordon, his grandson Dalton, and his daughter-in-law became emotional and violent.
They shouted obscenities, threw punches and kicked other people in the witness area. They were eventually led into a courtyard where the two men were arrested and later charged with resisting arrest.
Earlier on Thursday, the US Supreme Court rejected Coble’s request to stay his execution. He shot and killed Robert and Zelda Vicha and their son Bobby in Axtell, northeast of Waco, in August 1989.
McLennan County District Attorney Barry Johnson said, “This is the end of a horror story for the Vicha family.”
Bobby Vicha’s son was 11 when he was shackled and threatened during the Coble executions. He said it was a relief to know that the execution had finally taken place after years of delays.
JR Vicha said: “Still, the way they are doing it is more humane than what he did to my family. It is not what he deserves, but it will be good to know that we have gotten as much justice as the law allows.”
During his trial, jurors were told how Coble kidnapped his wife, Karen Vicha, out of desperation over an impending divorce.
He was arrested and later released on bail.
Nine days after the kidnapping, Coble went to Karen Vicha’s home, where he handcuffed her three daughters and JR Vicha.
He then went to the homes of Robert and Zelda Vicha (64 and 60 respectively) and Bobby Vicha (39), who lived nearby, and shot them.
After Karen Vicha returned home, Coble kidnapped her and drove away, assaulting her and threatening to rape and kill her. He was arrested after crashing following a police chase.
