CRAWFORD, MurRiel Don
Murriel Don Crawford
Murriel Don Crawford Jr. was convicted of the 1975 capital murder of Edith Whitfield during the robbery of an Amarillo Toot 'n Totum convenience store.
In the early morning hours of October 22, 1975, Crawford and accomplice David Mabra drove to the rural home of one of Mabra's former employers, where they stole a Scout vehicle and firearms before driving to the convenience store.
During the robbery, Crawford shot store clerk Edith Whitfield in the left eye with a .410-gauge shotgun, killing her instantly. The pair fled, were briefly stopped by an Amarillo police officer for a traffic violation, and were released after the officer declined permission to search their vehicle.
They later returned the stolen property and murder weapon to the stolen Scout in an effort to conceal their involvement.
In the weeks that followed, Crawford repeatedly boasted to friends and coworkers that he had committed the murder, describing the shooting in graphic detail and expressing no remorse.
He was later arrested on an unrelated burglary charge, confessed to the robbery and murder, pleaded guilty to capital murder, and was sentenced to death. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals ultimately affirmed his conviction.