News & Issues

Demarco Markeith McCullum #56

2004 Executions - Demarco Markeith McCullum:

#56 murderer executed in U.S. in 2004.
Executed 11/9/2004 in Texas by Lethal Injection.

Summary of the Murder: In 1995, McCullum was convicted and sentenced to death for the capital murder of Michael Burzinski in Houston.

Statistical Data:

Murderer - Demarco Markeith McCullum

Date of Birth - 10/2/1974
Race - Black
Sex - Male
Age when crime committed - 19
Age when executed - 30
Date of Sentence - 11/30/1995

Victim - Michael James Burzinski

Date of Murder - 7/30/1994
Race - White
Sex - Male
Age when murdered - 29
Method of Murder - Handgun
Relationship to Murderer - None

Details of the Crime:

On July 30, 1994, then 19-year-old Demarco McCullum and three other teenaged boys decided to rob a homosexual because McCullum believed gays always carried a lot of money. McCullum and others began driving around in search of a victim and ended up in the parking lot of a Montrose area night club.

Seeing 29-year-old Michael Burzinski walking to his car, McCullum began talking to him, then suddenly attacked Burzinski, striking him four or five times in the face with the handle of a pistol. McCullum was joined in his attack on Burzinski by the other three teens. Afterwards, they threw Burzinski in the back seat of his own car and drove off in the car with McCullum driving.

The group robbed Burzinski of his money and his ATM card. Burzinski pleaded for his life, but McCullum insisted he had to be killed. When his companions asked McCullum why, he said that Burzinski knew their names. McCullum then said everyone’s name aloud, including his own. Thereafter, McCullum drove to a secluded location, forced Burzinski out of the car, and shot him in the back of the head. McCullum later bragged that he felt like a judge because he had taken someone’s life.

Criminal History:

The murder for which McCullum was sentenced to death was part of a summer-long crime-spree that began because McCullum needed money for clothes for college.

On June 18, 1994, McCullum shot Ryan Lonergan while he was attempting to get cash from a drive-thru ATM machine in the Houston area. Lonergan survived but was paralyzed by the gunshot wound to his back.

On August 8, 1994, McCullum participated in the kidnaping and robbery of Ty Selcer. McCullum robbed Selcer of his car at gunpoint in front of Selcer’s Harris County home and took him to a bank where he was forced to withdraw money from his banking account.

Afterwards, Selcer was returned to his home so McCullum and his cohorts could steal Selcer’s personal belongings. There they robbed the victim’s brother, Travis Selcer, at gunpoint and tied him up while they made their escape, taking Ty Selcer along with them. Ty Selcer was then taken to a remote location and tied to a telephone pole. McCullum wanted to kill Selcer, but his colleagues convinced him otherwise. McCullum punched Selcer in the face before leaving him tied to the telephone pole.

Finally, on August 11, 1994, McCullum and his cohorts robbed Ramona Wesling and Daniel Raymond Bowen, a Liberty County constable. Bowen was savagely beaten with golf clubs by McCullum’s companions while McCullum held Wesling at bay. Wesling had a close view of McCullum during this episode. McCullum and his colleagues stole both victims’ money and ATM cards, and Bowen’s pickup truck. McCullum threw Wesling in a trash dumpster, injuring her back, and left.

Procedural History:

March 18, 1998 — The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed McCullum’s conviction and sentence.
December 22, 1998 — McCullum filed an application for writ of habeas corpus in the state trial court.
June 26, 2002 — The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals denied habeas relief.
November 26, 2002 — McCullum filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus in a Houston U.S. district court.
June 9, 2003 — The federal district court denied habeas relief.
February 22, 2004 — The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals denied McCullum permission to appeal
May 24, 2004 — McCullum petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court for certiorari review.
May 27, 2004 — The Supreme Court dismissed McCullum’s petition as untimely.
June 22, 2004 — The trial court entered an order setting the execution date for November 9, 2004.

The Execution

Michael Burzinski's mother was among the witnesses present during the execution. McCullum never acknowledged their presence.

Last Meal:Cheeseburger, french fries, apple pie, three Cokes and five mint sticks.

Last Words: "I just wanted to say to all of those that have supported me over the years that I appreciate it and I love you. And I just want to tell my Mom that I love her and I will see her in heaven."

McCullum, who at one time had a promising athletic future, was pronounced dead at 6:17 p.m. CST. by lethal injection.