Jury sentences Texas inmate to die for death of Huntsville prison guard during 2007 escape

Texas inmate to die for prison guard’s death

CENTERVILLE, Texas — A Texas prison inmate convicted of killing a corrections officer during a September 2007 escape is headed to death row.

A jury decided Tuesday that 39-year-old Jerry Martin should die for the death of 59-year-old guard Susan Canfield of New Waverly.

Canfield was killed when Martin and John Ray Falk broke away from a work detail outside a Huntsville prison, stole a truck and rammed into Canfield while she was on horseback.

The fugitives were caught within hours.

Martin already had been serving 50-year sentence for attempted murder.

Falk is awaiting trial on similar charges related to the guard’s death. He’d been serving life for a 1986 murder.