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Amy Robach
This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.
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Can you grab one more thing?
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I'll come back up for you.
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Really?
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I'm going to have another one.
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Bowen Yang
Is Bowen Yang from Lost Culture Resource with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang. We all know the feeling when life gets really busy. Taking care of yourself can feel impossible. That's why Premier Protein shakes are my go to. They have 30 grams of protein, 160 calories, no added sugar and they taste amazing. So they're a healthy choice you'll actually want to make. It's not just for fitness, it's for getting after life. 30 grams of protein gives you the fuel you need. It's not just for intense gym sessions, it's just for life. With the wide variety of flavors, from cafe latte to cake batter, it never feels boring. It's a flavor for everyone. I personally love the peaches and cream, but maybe you're a root beer floater cinnamon roll kind of person. Premier Protein powers me to say yes to more. Find your favorite flavor@premierprotein.com that's P R E M I E R protein.com or at Amazon, Walmart and other major retailers Foreign.
TJ Holmes
Hey there folks. It is Thursday, January 29, and the first execution of 2026 was carried out last night in Texas. And the death row inmate had a lot to say before Texas he was put to death. And with that welcome to this episode of Amy and TJ Robes, I should qualify that. A lot to say relatively speaking. He said more than we are used to a lot of death row inmates saying right before they're put to death.
Co-host/Commentator
Yeah, it might be surprising to many, but at least in the executions we've been covering over this past year, most inmates choose to say nothing before at all. At all. They just say like, nope, no thanks, hard pass. So when someone speaks, it's usually of note and it's usually one sentence. This was a lot more than that.
TJ Holmes
Yeah. Of note. Last night's execution robes was of note for a number of reasons. First of all, it was the first in the United States that we have had in 2026 after a year last year in which we saw an increase, a sharp increase in the executions in the country. It's also notable robes. We say to folks, first execution of 2026, I guess you would have the usual suspect of what state it was. This one gets back to, I guess the first one that's top of mind. Even though last year Florida led the way.
Co-host/Commentator
Yes, we're talking about Texas. And the first execution of 2026. Yes, was in Texas and it was Charles Victor Thompson. He was executed last night in Huntsville, Texas. It took him 22 minutes, I believe from when they began. But he was pronounced dead at 6:50pm Central Time. And as we have alluded to it, was not uneventful.
TJ Holmes
It was not these are always and again, few witnesses in there having to do with who are connected to the case, families and whatnot. But also you have some journalists that are usually picked to be in there as well, and we are getting some of that commentary from them. Charles Victor Thompson, 55 years old, been on death row robes. Another one of these cases about 30 years that this family has been waiting for justice. But convicted of a double Murder back in 1999 killed a woman who was his ex girlfriend. 30 years, 49 year old Denise Hayslip and her new boyfriend Darren Kane, who was 30 years old now robes last night. It was. This is. This was well attended, yes. Would you not say relatively speaking? Again, no.
Co-host/Commentator
But again from a perspective standpoint, a lot of times, especially because you have 20, 30, sometimes even 40 years between when the murders happened and when the executions actually take place. Because that's how we roll apparently here in the United States. A lot of times anyone who would have wanted to attend had passed or had moved on or it was just too painful to revisit. So yes, this was a full house so to speak because you had in attendance for Thompson who was being executed his father. They put him in a separate room and that's understandable also for Denise Hayslip. Her son was there who was 13 at the time of her murder and has been very outspoken throughout this case. Her brother and her brother's wife and then in attendance for Cain. His parents were both there and his ex wife. So that. That is a very full house when it comes to execution.
TJ Holmes
Fairly young man. Cain was only 30 years old and what the death row inmate Thompson was. 25, 26, 27 I believe just because.
Co-host/Commentator
I watched an interview he gave over the fall where he was kind of blaming his 27 year old like. Kind of like acting as if he was a teenager, that he had a immature mind and was had anger issues. And so he was kind of saying I was just 27, old enough to know better.
TJ Holmes
So the as it were and as it went last night robes I also saw and read about this one that different from others. There was a casualness to him. It seemed like he was interacting with his spiritual advisor, other people in the room and that was a. I guess almost a moment of. It seems weird to say you've been to a lot of events. It was almost like the pre events. Like it was almost a. I don't know, like a cocktail hour or something. Everybody was lounging around and hanging out before the main event. That's a weird way to put it but we're not used to also rope seeing or hearing this much interaction or casualness to a certain degree in the death chamber.
Co-host/Commentator
Yeah, this is a somber event. I've attended one in my life and we were actually. We had to take a vow of silence. There was no speaking. Once you get on the bus, at least this was in South Carolina, and rode out to where the execution took place. You did not speak just out of reverence to what was happening. So that is very unusual.
TJ Holmes
Yeah. And he was leading the way, I should say. I'm not talking about. The people in the room were being loud away. He was talking to the people in the death chamber, according to the witnesses there. Now, there are a couple of things that did come out. We'll get into some of the comments that Hayslip's son made in just a moment. But this was significant. He was asked, they're always asked, do you have any last words? And Thompson had some.
Co-host/Commentator
He had quite a few, actually. Here's what he had to say. I hope the victim's family, their extended family and their loved ones can find forgiveness in their heart and that you can begin to heal and move past this. There are no winners in this situation. It creates more victims and traumatizes more people. 28 years later. 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 you keep Jesus in your life. Keep Jesus first to my children. Get to know the Lord and I love you all.
TJ Holmes
Okay? It's. That's a lot more than we're used to hearing. That's some would argue a lot, lot late as well. I didn't realize, but the DA is the one that said this was the first time he has ever taken responsibility and certainly the first time he ever asked for forgiveness in this crime. That's significant, but he did it at the very last moment.
Co-host/Commentator
Look, that this might be one of those better late than never. And of course, obviously nothing undoes the trauma that he created and the tragedy that will live forever in the hearts of the family members who are left behind. But an apology does, I would think, have some sort of. I hope that it gives them some sort of peace, that it does matter. It does give you a sense of. There is an acceptance and an acknowledgment of causing someone else pain. There is some gift that is given in through that act of apology.
TJ Holmes
And it seemed like her son, who has been very outspoken in talking about. Certainly he was going to attend. He's been talking about that for a while and he was in fact there. Now, two different sets of comments have emerged from him. He did speak to a press outlet there robes after. He didn't do a press conference or come out and talk to micro in front of microphones, but he apparently did Talk to a local outlet there in Texas. But what's been so widely reported is what he said in the room immediately after Robes, and that's emotional and understandable. What is reportedly at least, was a comment he made right after the execution.
Co-host/Commentator
Yes, reportedly, Hayslip son said he's in hell when he died. And look, I get it. He had given some interviews beforehand about, yes, the painfulness of having to wait 28 years to see his mom's killer finally put to justice. But he lost his father recently. So he, you know, just. He just said all the times in his life when he needed his mother, when he graduated from high school, when he met his wife, when he had his children, you know, all of those milestones, he never got to have his mom along the way for him. So all that anger and all that resentment, you can only imagine him uttering, he's in hell. Yeah, I get it.
TJ Holmes
There was a different tone, at least afterwards. Houston Press, the outlet reporting they were able to speak to him. And he said this to them afterwards. I was the first one into the viewing chamber. We locked eyes and I nodded at him. I acknowledged him. I sincerely hope that he's made it right with God and that he's not somewhere burning in hell. I mean, that's. Again, that's what they are reporting. But Robes, that's. You kind of get it. Emotion is something.
Co-host/Commentator
Maybe he. Yes. And you know what? I can totally see him releasing that in the moment and that maybe by saying he's in hell after he died, he released some of that anger and then was able to actually make a more thoughtful comment afterwards. That actually makes sense.
TJ Holmes
And what did he think? I always wonder, what do the families want to hear anything? Do they want him to say something at the end? Do they want an apology? Do they want explanation? I don't know. But he was able to respond, at least Hayslip's son, about what he thought about the final comments from the guy who killed his mom.
Co-host/Commentator
Yeah, he said it didn't matter what he said or didn't say at the end. I was looking for accountability. All he had to offer was that moment. I did not want him to die with malice in my heart. So I was fighting, staying strong and trying to not emotionally break down in front of everybody. That is such an honest, real answer.
TJ Holmes
I mean, and there it is, the last words. I know it's always of interest. The last meal will only mention that. Again, a fascination with that, and it makes sense. But he again, kind of went against the mold here. Robes and didn't ask for anything special?
Co-host/Commentator
Yeah, he just asked for breakfast. He just wanted scrambled eggs, grape jelly, oatmeal, applesauce and biscuits. And for lunch, fried chicken, pinto beans, sweet potatoes, carrots, sliced bread swirl pudding, punch and water. These were just standard prison options. He didn't ask for anything special or anything to be delivered. Don't know that they would have given him. Different jails or different prisons have different rules. But we've heard some outlandish, like very elaborate last meal requests that were granted, weren't they?
TJ Holmes
Yeah.
Co-host/Commentator
Which has been controversial. So he just kind of stuck with what the prison had to offer and picked the best of the worst, probably.
TJ Holmes
So, yes, he did die. This is a state that offers lethal injection. Pentobarbital is what it's called. He's essentially given an overdose of this drug. It's a drug that's used to treat seizures. It depresses the nervous system. It's considered a barbiturate, but it is a fast acting barbiturate that is actually used to euthanize animals and to treat seizures in low doses. But essentially they are giving this man an overdose of this drug to let you know he did try. We've seen some ropes. Some say, nevermind, I'll skip the appeals, most don't. They'll at least go as far as they can with their legal options. But he ran out. The Supreme Court denied him. The parole board there denied him as well. We need to mention, yes, we told you, double, double murder. But this was a pretty horrific crime here.
Co-host/Commentator
Yeah, it happened in a Houston suburb. And look, basically to boil it down, his girlfriend who broke up with him and his son who was there in the chamber, talked about witnessing physical violence. She finally broke up with him after dating him for about a year after her 18 year marriage to, to her son's father. And so she breaks up with him, she gets a new boyfriend. And yeah, he's, he's pissed about it. So he confronts the new boyfriend at the apartment and then she calls police. Police come to the scene and they find the two of them outside the apartment drinking a beer. And apparently like, so it seemed like everybody was good, they made up, they found some common ground. The new boyfriend believed that Thompson had come to terms with the fact that she had moved on. And they kind of just shared a beer over it. Right. But no, he comes back and so the police take him back to his house and just say, yeah, you should just go home. Glad you guys all made up. Great. But Thompson comes back an hour later and Shoots Kane, what, five times, I believe.
TJ Holmes
Her chest. Yeah, I believe.
Co-host/Commentator
And then basically reportedly tells Denise, I can shoot you right now, too. She goes off to Ron, gets her in the leg, and then shoots her in the cheek. But his assertion was he didn't mean to kill her and that she didn't die from his bullet. But that malpractice by the hospital, that there was some sort of infection that took place with her cheek or her face and that's what killed her. That was what he tried to get off the death penalty.
TJ Holmes
We can make the argument that the family of Hayslip also at least sued the hospital, thought there was something to that theory. They did sue the hospital as well. They lost, but they thought the hospital did something wrong that led to her death. So he tried to get his death sentence overturned, which he did. And then he had the. Another trial, if you will, just on his sentencing, they gave him the death penalty right back. But he said, well, the hell with it, y'. All. Not gonna let me out of prison, not gonna get me off death row. Maybe I'll just walk out of here. And he escaped prison shortly after that second sentencing. Not a complicated plan, Robes. We've covered a couple of prison breaks. The one in New Orleans, they just walked out a hole, right?
Co-host/Commentator
Yep.
TJ Holmes
The one in Arkansas just put on a prison uniform that he wrote security or something, Right. With a Sharpie and walked out. This dude did it, too.
Co-host/Commentator
Yeah. He smuggled in his court clothing back with him somehow. Don't know how he did that. And then in a little room or like a waiting room, he just changed into layperson's clothes and walked right out, hopped on a freight train, posed as a Hurricane Katrina victim and. But he was picked up four days later, drunk outside of a liquor store on the payphone.
TJ Holmes
Yeah. Only three days on the run, though. But he had made his way. But this story, this chapter, at least for this family, seems to be over. But stay here, folks. This is the first execution of the year. There are plenty more on the books. Could we get anywhere close to possibly seeing the type of year we saw last year? Stay here.
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Amy Robach
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Bowen Yang
Is Bowen Yang from Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang. We all know the feeling when life gets really busy. Taking care of yourself can feel impossible. That's why Premier Protein Shakes are my go to. They have 30 grams of protein, 160 calories, no added sugar and they taste amazing. So they're a healthy choice. You'll actually want to make. It's not just for fitness. It's for getting after life. The 30 grams of protein gives you the fuel you need. It's not just for intense gym sessions. It's just for life. With the wide variety of flavors, from cafe latte to cake batter, it never feels boring. It's a flavor for everyone. I personally love the peaches and cream, but maybe you're a root beer floater, cinnamon roll kind of person. Premier Protein powers me to say yes to or find your favorite flavor@premierprotein.com that's P R E M I E R protein.com or at Amazon, Walmart and other major retailers.
TJ Holmes
All right, continuing here ON Amy and TJ now, we saw the first execution of 2026 in the United States. That was in Texas. Texas, we're used to them leading the way when it comes to executions year after year and by far since the death penalty was brought back in 1976. They are by far and away like not even close. It's doubled or tripled or quadrupled. The next closest state. It's not even close. However, last year, robes, it wasn't close either because Florida led the way.
Co-host/Commentator
Florida made some inroad trying to get back up the ladder on that one. Yeah. So last year there were 47 executions. That is significant. What is that, like almost four a month.
TJ Holmes
And that's well kept trying to remember the year, but at least a dozen plus years since we've had a number that high.
Co-host/Commentator
Yes. So Florida led the way with 19 of the 47. The next. This is an interesting one. The next the state that had the next highest number of executions was Ohio at six. And then Texas, Alabama and South Carolina tied for third place with five executions each. So that is a big difference and a big switch in the number count that we're used to seeing.
TJ Holmes
So what can we expect this year? Well, as of now, 18 are scheduled, including the one last night. Eighteen now to your point again, Ohio right now has on the books the most planned for this year, six. Texas after that has four planned and then Florida has two. However, how high could these numbers go? They will change as governors start to sign death warrants.
Co-host/Commentator
Yes. And we saw Governor DeSantis make a pledge basically last year to victims families who wait. And it's true, if we have these laws on the books and you are sentenced to death, there is no reason why a family should have to wait three decades, four decades to actually see that sentence carried out. And that was what Desantis was trying to do last year and there's no reason why he wouldn't try to do the same this year. Just start to get resolution for these families.
TJ Holmes
The next one that is planned is in Florida, a man by the name of Ronald Heath scheduled to die on February 10th for a 1989 murder in Gainesville of a traveling salesman. We will keep an eye on all of this. The other note here we talk about Texas. I can't remember the number now, but since the death penalty came back, we said Texas overwhelmingly leads the way. But the number two state would be a county, Harris county, where the execution happened last night. If it were its own state, it would be number two in the country for the most executions. It's the Houston area. It's that county. That county has executed more people than any state in the country except Texas.
Co-host/Commentator
That is a fascinating number. And yes, to get an exact number, more than 590 executions have been carried out in the state of Texas since 1976.
TJ Holmes
What's number two on your list?
Co-host/Commentator
I'm trying to find. I don't. Let's see.
TJ Holmes
I should have it up, but Harris county would be number two. Whatever is number two on the list. Harris county has more than that. So they're considered the death penalty capital of the world. I believe they have been called.
Co-host/Commentator
I did not know that that was.
TJ Holmes
Harris county last night. Folks, we will keep an eye on. Did you have them?
Co-host/Commentator
Yeah. Oklahoma was the next one. Since 1976 is the second state and it just popped up 127. So a huge difference. So it's Texas with 598, Oklahoma with 127, Virginia with 113, Florida with 107 and Missouri with 101.
TJ Holmes
Number two on the list is what?
Co-host/Commentator
Oklahoma.
TJ Holmes
How many?
Co-host/Commentator
127.
TJ Holmes
Harris county has 136.
Co-host/Commentator
Wow.
TJ Holmes
Since 1976.
Co-host/Commentator
Wow.
TJ Holmes
So that is the county we are looking at, folks. The first of the year. Look, it was really robes and lightning. We didn't plan on doing this last year, but we got into these stories. We got into a lot of stories of, like, executions being moved or delayed because of questions about guilt or innocence. And there was. I can't remember. It was Indiana. There was one where a guy was. He was commuted. Like a governor who never commutes ended up commuting us. So it's just fascinating to see what's going on with the death penalty in this country. And it's not just execution night. A lot happens and frankly, robes. We see a lot of cracks in our system in how we covered last year all of the we were. I have not done that deep of a dive on executions in this country in my career. And last year we did. And you go, wow, there's a lot of problems here.
Co-host/Commentator
Yes. And if it's something, look, we are the only modern, civilized western nation who still carries out the death penalty. And so yes, to just blindly say you support it or you don't, it's important to really understand what goes into it and how we actually sentence people who we sentence to death and how we carry out those executions. It's important to know.
TJ Holmes
All right folks, we'll keep an eye on all things news related today. It's going to be a very, very busy news day. Please, by all means, top right corner of your Apple podcast app where you see our show page, a little button there that says follow, click that and you get the updates. But there is a lot to keep an eye on in Minneapolis, in a courtroom in Fairfax, Virginia as well with the Au Pair Affair trial. All those updates will be coming to you today in addition to our morning run. So folks, we will be talking to you all real soon, but on behalf of Amy Robach, I am TJ Holmes. Talk to y' all real, real soon. The new era of UFC on Paramount plus comes out swinging. Highlight machine Justin Gaethje collides with Paddy the Baddie Pimblet in a must see high octane main event. Plus Sean Suga o' Malley faces off against Song Yedong in a stand up war filled with high level striking. Pay per view just got knocked out stream UFC 324 live on January 24th only on Paramount. Visit paramountplus.com UFC to get started at CVS.
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Janice.
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Torres here and I'm Austin Hankwitz. We host the podcast Mind the Business Small Business Success Stories produced by Ruby Studio in partnership with Intuit QuickBooks.
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The big thing about working at tech is that it's ever evolving, ever changing. Everyone's a rookie. That's how fast the industry is changing. So what I'm really excited about is to be part of that change. So listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
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This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.
Episode Title: Overnight: 1st Execution of 2026, and He Had A Lot of Last Words
Date: January 29, 2026
Hosts: Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes
Producer: iHeartPodcasts
In this episode, Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes dive deep into the first U.S. execution of 2026, focusing on the case of Charles Victor Thompson. The discussion includes the context of the crime, details of the execution, analysis of Thompson’s unusually extensive final words, reactions from the victims’ families, and an exploration of national execution trends and controversies surrounding the death penalty in the United States.
"He said more than we are used to a lot of death row inmates saying right before they're put to death." — TJ Holmes (03:14)
"A lot of times, especially because you have 20, 30, sometimes even 40 years between when the murders happened and when the executions actually take place... anyone who would have wanted to attend had passed or had moved on... This was a full house so to speak." — Co-host (05:38)
"There was a casualness to him... almost like the pre-events. Like it was almost a... cocktail hour or something. Everybody was lounging around and hanging out before the main event..." — TJ Holmes (06:55)
"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 you keep Jesus in your life. Keep Jesus first to my children. Get to know the Lord and I love you all." — Charles Victor Thompson, quoted by co-host (08:16)
"The DA is the one that said this was the first time he has ever taken responsibility and certainly the first time he ever asked for forgiveness in this crime. That's significant, but he did it at the very last moment." — TJ Holmes (08:53)
"That is such an honest, real answer." — Co-host (12:25)
"Last year, there were 47 executions. That is significant. What is that, like almost four a month." — Co-host (21:11)
"Harris county has 136 [executions]. Since 1976." — TJ Holmes (24:30)
"We see a lot of cracks in our system in how we covered last year all of the...I have not done that deep of a dive on executions in this country in my career. And last year we did. And you go, wow, there's a lot of problems here." — TJ Holmes (24:35)
On the weight of last words:
"There is an acceptance and an acknowledgment of causing someone else pain. There is some gift that is given in through that act of apology." — Co-host (09:13)
On the emotional toll for victims’ families:
"All the times in his life when he needed his mother, when he graduated from high school, when he met his wife, when he had his children... he never got to have his mom along the way for him." — Co-host (10:22)
On the principle of justice and reform:
"If we have these laws on the books and you are sentenced to death, there is no reason why a family should have to wait three decades, four decades to actually see that sentence carried out." — Co-host (22:17)
On national context and comparative numbers:
"Texas with 598, Oklahoma with 127, Virginia with 113, Florida with 107 and Missouri with 101." — Co-host (24:06)
This episode provides a detailed, nuanced look at the realities and procedures of capital punishment in the U.S. by examining a particularly notable recent case. The hosts humanize the experience for both the victims’ and perpetrator’s families, weigh the impact of final words and apologies, and contextualize the event within wider national trends and ongoing debates on the death penalty. The conversation is balanced, empathetic, and critical, underscoring both the significance and the complexities of state-sanctioned executions in America.