John Allen Rubio was executed by lethal injection in Huntsville, Texas, on November 12, 2026, for the 2003 murders of three young children in Brownsville. His common-law wife, Angela Camacho, who also participated in the killings, remains in a Texas prison serving three life sentences after pleading guilty in 2005.
Rubio, 46, was pronounced dead at 6:47 p.m., more than 23 years after the murders. His execution brought renewed attention to Camacho, now 47, and the criminal case that resulted in separate convictions for both parents.
Who Is John Allen Rubio’s Wife Angela Camacho?
Angela Camacho is a Mexican national who lived with John Allen Rubio in Brownsville, Texas. The couple were in a common-law marriage and raised three young children together.
Camacho was 23 years old when the murders occurred in March 2003. She and Rubio lived in an apartment in Brownsville, near the United States-Mexico border.
The couple faced financial difficulties and had previously been involved with Child Protective Services. Two of the children were temporarily removed from their home in 2002 before being returned after the couple complied with court-ordered requirements.
Camacho became a central figure in the criminal investigation after authorities discovered the children’s bodies.
John Allen Rubio and Angela Camacho’s Three Children
The couple were raising three children when the murders occurred on March 11, 2003.
Their eldest child, Julissa Angela Quezada, was three years old. Their son, John, was approximately 14 months old, while their youngest daughter, Mary Jane Rubio, was just two months old.
Court records establish that Rubio was the biological father of Mary Jane. He acted as a father to all three children, although the two older children were not biologically his.
Investigators determined that Rubio and Camacho killed the children inside their apartment. Prosecutors argued that financial difficulties contributed to the murders, while Rubio claimed he believed the children were possessed by demons.
The case shocked residents of Brownsville and led to a lengthy legal process involving both defendants.
Why Was Angela Camacho Sentenced to Life in Prison?
Camacho initially faced the possibility of receiving the death penalty for her involvement in the killings.
In June 2005, she pleaded guilty to the murders under an agreement with prosecutors that removed the possibility of capital punishment.
She received three concurrent life sentences. Under the terms of her punishment, she became eligible for parole after serving 40 years.
Her case also involved questions about her mental health and her ability to participate in legal proceedings.
Camacho is currently incarcerated at the Christina Melton Crain Unit in Gatesville, Texas. Prison records identify March 12, 2043, as her parole eligibility date.
Angela Camacho Discussed the Murders in a Prison Interview
During a jailhouse interview in 2007, Camacho discussed Rubio’s claims that their children were possessed.
“He told me a lot of things about him and the devil, and he started telling me that they were possessed, and I believed him,” Camacho said.
She also acknowledged her responsibility for failing to protect the children.
“It was my fault, too, because I was there,” she said.
When asked whether she regretted what happened, Camacho expressed remorse for allowing Rubio’s actions and not defending her children.
Her statements became an important issue in Rubio’s legal proceedings. His original conviction was overturned in 2007 because prosecutors had improperly introduced statements Camacho made to police without allowing his defense team to cross-examine her.
Rubio was tried again in 2010 and convicted of capital murder. He received another death sentence.
John Allen Rubio Mentioned Angela in His Final Statement
Rubio’s execution took place after courts rejected his final attempts to delay the punishment.
His attorneys had challenged aspects of the psychiatric evidence presented during his trial. Defense experts had argued that Rubio experienced serious mental illness, while prosecutors disputed the conclusions supporting his insanity defense.
Before receiving the lethal injection, Rubio thanked relatives, friends and prison staff members who had supported him.
He also apologized to the children’s relatives and addressed his common-law wife.
“Give my love to Angela, I still love her very much,” Rubio said.
The lethal injection began at 6:26 p.m., and Rubio was pronounced dead 21 minutes later.
Where Is Angela Camacho Now?
Angela Camacho remains incarcerated at the Christina Melton Crain Unit in Gatesville following Rubio’s execution.
She has been imprisoned for more than two decades and continues serving the life sentences imposed after her guilty plea.
On November 12, Brownsville residents gathered at Tres Angeles Park for a candlelight vigil honoring Julissa, John and Mary Jane. The park stands on the former apartment property where the murders occurred.
As of November 13, 2026, Camacho remains in state custody, with her first parole eligibility date scheduled for March 12, 2043. There has been no public announcement of a change to her sentence.