The man who executed six members of his ex-wife's family in their Spring home in 2014 has been sentenced to die. Jurors delivered the sentence of death by lethal injection to Ronald Haskell, 39, late Friday following four hours of deliberations and two weeks of testimony in the sentencing phase of the trial. The same jury convicted Haskell last month in the murders of Stephen and Katie Stay, along with four of their children ages 4 to 13. A fifth child, then 15-year-old Cassidy Stay, survived the shootings and helped bring Haskell to justice, ultimately testifying against him at trial. Katie Stay was the sister of Haskell's ex-wife, whom he had threatened and stalked after she fled an abusive marriage months earlier.
Haskell's defense attorneys used an insanity defense at trial, claiming he heard voices in his head. They continued that argument during sentencing, pushing for life in prison. But jurors delivered the ultimate punishment. After the sentencing, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg praised the outcome. "I think our community has rendered their verdict about what they think about this defendant, and what they will do when the ultimate crime is committed," said Ogg. "They followed the law, they looked at the evidence, and they rendered a just verdict."
Cassidy Stay, whose testimony was key in Haskell's conviction and sentencing, also spoke after the sentence was handed down. "I feel a lot of relief," she told reporters. "It feels like a huge weight has been lifted off my chest, and I feel like justice is finally going to be served, and I'm glad that I don't have to worry about it anymore."