Texas Man Executed for Setting Elderly Garland Clerk on Fire During 2012 Robbery
Matthew Lee Johnson, a 49-year-old Texas man, was executed by lethal injection on May 20, 2025, for the brutal 2012 murder of 76-year-old Nancy Harris, a beloved convenience store clerk in Garland, Texas. The execution took place at the Huntsville Unit, marking the fourth execution in Texas this year and the 18th nationwide. CBS News+13AP News+13Wikipedia+13Wikipedia+1AP News+1
The Crime
On the morning of May 20, 2012, Johnson entered the Fina Whip-In convenience store where Harris was working her Sunday shift. He doused her with lighter fluid, demanded money, and then set her on fire before calmly walking out with stolen cash. Despite suffering severe burns over 40% of her body, Harris managed to exit the store and alert nearby officers, who extinguished the flames. She provided a description of her attacker before succumbing to her injuries five days later. CBS News+2The Texas Observer+2101.5 KNUE+2CBS News+3AP News+3Wikipedia+3AP News+2NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth+2101.5 KNUE+2
Arrest and Trial
Johnson was apprehended approximately an hour after the attack, found in possession of the stolen money and Harris’s ring. During his 2013 trial, he confessed to the crime, expressing remorse and attributing his actions to being under the influence of crack cocaine. The jury found him guilty of capital murder and sentenced him to death. CBS News+3Wikipedia+3Justia+3AP News+1Wikipedia+1
Appeals and Execution
Over the years, Johnson’s legal team filed multiple appeals, citing issues such as the constitutionality of his death sentence and the scheduling of his execution date. All appeals were ultimately denied, including a final request to the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to commute his sentence. Johnson was executed exactly 13 years after the attack on Harris. CBS News+4AP News+4Wikipedia+4
Remembering Nancy Harris
Nancy Harris was a great-grandmother who had worked at the convenience store for over a decade. Her family described her as dedicated and loving, often spending time with her grandchildren. Her tragic death left a lasting impact on the community and her family, who remembered her fondly and expressed relief that justice had been served. CBS News+13AP News+13101.5 KNUE+13
The execution of Matthew Johnson brings closure to a case that has haunted the Garland community for over a decade, highlighting the enduring impact of violent crimes on victims’ families and communities.
