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The Evidence Room, Episode 5 - The Oldest Death Row Inmate

Inside the case file of Carl Wayne Buntion and the murder of Houston Police Officer James Irby

April 21 execution date set for Carl Wayne Buntion

HOUSTON – He was a convicted cop killer who became the oldest person ever executed in Texas.

Carl Wayne Buntion ended up on death row for murdering Houston police officer James Irby in 1990. But his path to notoriety started years earlier.

Ultimately, his story exposed significant flaws in the criminal justice system that would spark a reckoning across Texas.

Carl Wayne Buntion already had a criminal record when he shot officer in the head and back, but he’d been released from prison early due to overcrowding.

He served just 13 months of a 15-year prison sentence for sexually assaulting a teenage girl.

Carl Wayne Buntion, left, and Houston police officer James Irby. (Harris County District Attorney's Office)

Former US Marshal for the Southern District of Texas, Gary Blankenship, and Andy Kahn, with Crime Stoppers of Houston, reflect on Officer Irby’s life and impact on this city.

Plus, they share how this case would ultimately change how sentencing is handled for violent felons in the state of Texas.

Watch the season premiere of The Evidence Room here.


Three ways to watch KPRC 2+

  • Search for the KPRC 2+ app on your smart TV or streaming device - including Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, and Google TV.
  • Catch the show on Click2Houston.com/watchlive or in the video player above.
  • Watch on the Click2Houston app – which is free to download in your Apple or Android app store.

About the Authors
Robert Arnold headshot

Award winning investigative journalist who joined KPRC 2 in July 2000. Husband and father of the Master of Disaster and Chaos Gremlin. “I don’t drink coffee to wake up, I wake up to drink coffee.”

Ana Lastra headshot

Nationally-recognized investigative journalist. Passionate about in-depth and investigative stories that are important to the community. Obsessed with my Corgi pup named Chulo.

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