John Allen Rubio, 45, is set to die by lethal injection in Texas on Thursday, November 12, 2026, for the murders of his three young children in Brownsville more than two decades ago, closing one of the most disturbing family murder cases in the state’s history.

Rubio was convicted of capital murder for stabbing and beheading Julissa Quesada, 3, John Esteban Rubio, 14 months, and Mary Jane Rubio, 2 months, on March 11, 2003, telling police the children were “possessed by evil spirits”. His final appeal to stop the execution was denied in October 2026, at the Huntsville Unit.

Key Points

• John Allen Rubio, 45, is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection in Texas on Thursday, November 12, 2026, at the Huntsville Unit.
• He was convicted of capital murder for killing his three young children — Julissa Quesada, 3, John Esteban Rubio, 14 months, and Mary Jane Rubio, 2 months — in Brownsville on March 11, 2003.
• Rubio was first sentenced to death in 2003. That ruling was overturned in 2007, and he was retried in 2010 and sentenced to death again.
• Angela Camacho, the children’s mother and Rubio’s girlfriend at the time, is serving three consecutive life terms for her role in the murders.

What Happened

The killings took place on March 11, 2003, at the family’s home in Brownsville, Texas. According to court filings, Rubio first stabbed and beheaded Julissa Quesada, 3, and two-month-old Mary Jane Rubio, with Camacho’s assistance. He then said he also had to kill 14-month-old John Esteban Rubio, and the baby was killed the same way.

After the killings, Rubio told police the children had been “possessed by evil spirits” and that he believed killing them was the only way to free them. Rubio’s brother discovered the children’s bodies when he visited the home and called police.

Rubio surrendered to officers, telling them: “Just arrest me. I know I did something bad but I rather my children be dead than be possessed.” Prosecutors used the words at trial as evidence of his intent and his state of mind on the day of the murders.

Background: A Troubled Household Before the Killings

The household was already in deep trouble before March 2003. Rubio and Camacho had been living on the streets when she became pregnant with their youngest child, and Child Protective Services had removed Julissa and John from their care for a period, placing them with Camacho’s mother.

The couple later moved into an apartment in Brownsville that had no running water or electricity. According to court filings, Rubio had suggested murdering Julissa and John after the move, but Camacho dismissed the idea, thinking he was joking. Only Mary Jane was Rubio’s biological child; he reportedly treated the other two as his own.

No court accepted Rubio’s claim about evil spirits as a defence.

John Allen Rubio Execution Follows Two Decades of Appeals

Rubio was convicted of murder and sentenced to death for the triple murder in 2003. The ruling was overturned by a Texas court in 2007, and he was retried in 2010. A second jury again found him guilty of capital murder, and he was sentenced to death a second time.

The case then moved through the long appeals process that follows every Texas death sentence. His appeal to stop the execution was denied in October 2026, and the execution date was set for November 12. By then, Rubio had spent more than two decades on death row.

Texas carries out its executions at the Huntsville Unit, known as the Walls Unit, where the state’s death chamber is located. Executions there are carried out by lethal injection.

Reactions and Quotes

The only words from Rubio himself in the public record are the ones he gave to police on the day of the murders. He told officers the children were possessed and said: “I know I did something bad but I rather my children be dead than be possessed.” No final statement from him has been made public.

Camacho, who is serving her life sentences in a Texas prison, gave a prison interview in 2007, but no new statement from her has been reported in connection with the execution date.

Why It Matters

The case matters because of the scale of the crime and the length of the wait for justice. Three children under the age of four were killed by their own father in their home, and the case has remained one of the most notorious family murders in Texas history. The execution closes a case that has been open since March 2003, through two trials and almost a generation of appeals.

It also matters as a measure of how the Texas death penalty works in practice. A sentence handed down in 2003 took 23 years to carry out, after one verdict was overturned and a second trial was needed. Supporters cite cases like this as the reason the punishment exists; critics cite the decades of delay and the question of whether a man who believed his children were possessed was mentally fit to be executed. Read more: Tyler Robinson Trial Set for Summer 2028 in Utah Charlie Kirk Killing Case.

What Happens Next

The execution is scheduled for Thursday, November 12, 2026, at the Huntsville Unit. Last-minute filings remain possible until the final hours, but no stay had been reported as the date approached.

If the execution goes ahead, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice will confirm Rubio’s death and release a brief account of his final hours. The case will then be closed, 23 years after the murders in Brownsville. Read more: Moss Landing Shooting Update: 2 Killed, 2 Injured in Isolated Beach Attack.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is John Allen Rubio?

John Allen Rubio, 45, is a Texas man convicted of capital murder for killing his three young children — Julissa Quesada, 3, John Esteban Rubio, 14 months, and Mary Jane Rubio, 2 months — in Brownsville, Texas, on March 11, 2003.

When is John Allen Rubio scheduled to be executed?

Rubio is scheduled to die by lethal injection on Thursday, November 12, 2026, at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Huntsville Unit. His final appeal to stop the execution was denied in October 2026.

What happened on March 11, 2003?

Rubio stabbed and beheaded his three children in Brownsville, telling police they were “possessed by evil spirits”. His brother found the bodies and called police; Rubio surrendered at the scene.

Why did it take 23 years to carry out the execution?

He was first sentenced to death in 2003, but that ruling was overturned in 2007. Retried in 2010, he was found guilty again and sentenced to death a second time. The appeals were not exhausted until October 2026.

What happened to Angela Camacho?

Angela Camacho, the children’s mother and Rubio’s girlfriend at the time, is serving three consecutive life terms in a Texas prison for her role in the murders.