Odessa Man Sentenced To Life In Prison For Double Murder
By: Dylan Brooks
Updated: November 8, 2012
ODESSA -- An Odessa man will spend the rest of his life in a Texas prison for killing a prominent Odessa couple and stealing their vehicle.
A judge sentenced James Doyle Burwell to life in prison without parole Thursday, after an Ector County jury found him guilty of 3 counts of capital murder.
It took jurors only 35 minutes to convict Burwell.
Burwell, 28, killed Richard "Dick" Jess Glover and Peggy Colleene Glover early on the morning of May 23, 2011.
The double murder happened during a robbery at the elderly couple's home in the 2700 block of Fair Oaks Circle in Odessa.
Law enforcement officials later arrested Burwell in Lubbock.
Burwell was driving the Glover's 2007 Lincoln Navigator at the time of his arrest, and Odessa Police say he had one of Peggy Glover's credit cards on him.
Burwell also had bloody boots on at the time of his arrest.
Peggy Glover, 74, was the owner and CEO of Gemstar Fabrication. Dick Glover, 76, was the owner of the Dick Glover Company, which specializes in oil field supplies.
The Ector County District Attorney's Office decided to waive the death penalty for Burwell at the request of the Glovers' children.
"We appreciate the quick verdict of the jury," Ector County District Attorney Bobby Bland said in a statement. "This was truly a reprehensible crime, and we are glad that James Burwell was held responsible for it. Mr. Burwell will die in prison, and he deserves nothing less. I hope that this verdict provides a sense of justice for the family of Dick and Peggy Glover."
Meanwhile, a relative of Burwell's -- Tisha Burwell -- was arrested on October 11th and accused of tampering with evidence to be used in the capital murder trial.
Tisha Burwell is now charged with tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.
A judge sentenced James Doyle Burwell to life in prison without parole Thursday, after an Ector County jury found him guilty of 3 counts of capital murder.
It took jurors only 35 minutes to convict Burwell.
Burwell, 28, killed Richard "Dick" Jess Glover and Peggy Colleene Glover early on the morning of May 23, 2011.
The double murder happened during a robbery at the elderly couple's home in the 2700 block of Fair Oaks Circle in Odessa.
Law enforcement officials later arrested Burwell in Lubbock.
Burwell was driving the Glover's 2007 Lincoln Navigator at the time of his arrest, and Odessa Police say he had one of Peggy Glover's credit cards on him.
Burwell also had bloody boots on at the time of his arrest.
Peggy Glover, 74, was the owner and CEO of Gemstar Fabrication. Dick Glover, 76, was the owner of the Dick Glover Company, which specializes in oil field supplies.
The Ector County District Attorney's Office decided to waive the death penalty for Burwell at the request of the Glovers' children.
"We appreciate the quick verdict of the jury," Ector County District Attorney Bobby Bland said in a statement. "This was truly a reprehensible crime, and we are glad that James Burwell was held responsible for it. Mr. Burwell will die in prison, and he deserves nothing less. I hope that this verdict provides a sense of justice for the family of Dick and Peggy Glover."
Meanwhile, a relative of Burwell's -- Tisha Burwell -- was arrested on October 11th and accused of tampering with evidence to be used in the capital murder trial.
Tisha Burwell is now charged with tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.
