Meet Charles Victor Thompson, The First Person Executed in Texas in 2026

In recent years, Texas executions have slowed to a trickle. The state once famous for its "robust" death row turnover rate is now commonly outpaced by other states. A combination of factors, including the expense of death row trials and the scarcity of drugs that can get the job done humanely, has tempered the practicality of this ultimate form of punishment from the State.

Despite these obstacles, a handful of inmates are executed each year. In 2026 there are three men scheduled to be executed in March, April, and May. And one man has already met the needle: Charles Victor Thompson, the first man executed in Texas and in the entire U.S. in 2026.

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The Crimes of Charles Victor Thompson

Thompson was convicted of the shooting deaths of his ex-girlfriend Dennise Hayslip, and her friend Darren Cain. According to court documents, Thompson had a history of violent outbursts with Hayslip, including punching holes in the wall and throwing things, and didn't contribute to the rent or bills despite living with her.

In the very early morning of April 30th, 1998, a neighbor was awoken by dog barking and a woman yelling "stop" and "help". The neighbor heard Thompson call Hayslip a "whore" and saw that Hayslip had a black eye. Thompson had also taken a hit (possibly from Cain), and when police responded to the scene, everyone declined to press charges. It was a simple domestic dispute... until it wasn't.

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At 6 a.m,. the neighbor's child heard gunshots as he was leaving for school. The neighbor walked outside and discovered "Hayslip sitting on the ground bleeding from the mouth and gasping for breath. Hayslip made a sign with her hands like someone shooting a gun." Police returned to the scene and found Cain dead inside Hayslip's apartment. Hayslip would not survive the surgery to repair her airway.

An Attempted Appeal

All death penalty cases in Texas are automatically granted the chance to appeal. Thompson's lawyers attempted to mitigate the harm Thompson had inflicted on two people by arguing that Hayslip died of medical malpractice, not of the initial gunshot wound to her face. The argument was found insufficient by the State, and the appeal was denied.

Thompson's Last Words

I’m sorry for what I did. I’m sorry for what happened, and I want to tell all of y’all, I love you, and that keep Jesus in your life, keep Jesus first.