On May 20, 2025, Matthew Lee Johnson is scheduled for execution in Texas, following his conviction for the brutal murder of Nancy Harris, a beloved grandmother. Johnson will face lethal injection for the crime he committed on May 20, 2012, when he set Harris on fire at a convenience store in Garland, Texas.
Johnson’s heinous act involved dousing Harris with lighter fluid while she attempted to open the store’s cash register. After taking cash, cigarettes, and a ring, Johnson lit Harris on fire. While she fought desperately to put out the flames, Johnson casually walked out, even pausing to grab some candy. Despite her suffering, Johnson made no attempt to help, and by the time she was rushed to the hospital, Harris had sustained severe burns that covered 40% of her body. She passed away five days later, on May 25, 2012, after being removed from life support.
The death of Nancy Harris, aged 76, left her family shattered. A devoted mother and grandmother, she was known for her “Nini Days,” special Fridays spent with her granddaughters, Lorelai, Hannah, and Olivia. These outings, filled with shopping and fast food, were a highlight of their week. To her family, Harris was a kind, loving matriarch who did everything she could to be there for her children and grandchildren.
In the years leading up to her death, Harris had been diligent about her health. A health scare in 2000 prompted her to focus on her well-being, ensuring she would be around for all the milestones in her family’s life. Despite the tragedy of her death, her memory lives on through the moments she shared with her loved ones.
Johnson’s life story reveals a troubled past. Born and raised in Dallas, he had a difficult childhood, often left unsupervised and exposed to drugs at an early age. At the age of 7, he was introduced to marijuana, and by his teens, he was using crack cocaine and PCP. His life continued spiraling downward into addiction, and he even struggled to hide his drug use from his wife, Daphne, after they married. In his mid-20s, after a robbery committed while under the influence, he served a prison sentence for five years.
It was during his time in prison that Johnson first tried to turn his life around. He became sober, enrolled in parenting classes, and seemed to gain a sense of purpose. However, his attempts to rebuild his life outside prison proved to be short-lived. Despite making progress with his family and career, the loss of his wife’s job in 2011, combined with financial stress, pushed Johnson back into addiction. It was during this dark period that he committed the unforgivable act that led to Harris’s death.
As Johnson faces execution, his clemency petition highlights his remorse for the crime. According to his attorney, he has expressed deep regret for his actions and is “extremely remorseful” for the pain he caused Harris’s family. The petition also notes that, while on death row, Johnson has taken part in a faith-based program, striving to be a positive influence on his daughters despite being incarcerated.
Nancy Harris’s family, including her sons, John, Scot, and Chris, along with their children, will be witnesses to Johnson’s execution. For them, this long-awaited moment marks a bitter conclusion to a traumatic chapter in their lives. Elizabeth, Harris’s daughter, explained that while nothing can truly heal the wounds left by her mother’s death, the execution provides a sense of finality. “We’re just tired, and we just want it to be over with,” she said. “There’s no such thing as healing. It gets easier, but it’s never truly healed.”
Johnson’s execution will be the fourth in Texas this year and the 18th nationwide. It is the second execution in the U.S. on May 20, as Benjamin Ritchie, convicted of murdering police Officer Bill Toney, is executed just hours earlier in Indiana.
The date of May 20 now holds a tragic significance for both families, as it marks the culmination of years of pain, legal battles, and personal reflection. For those who knew Nancy Harris, it is a reminder of a life cut short by a senseless act of violence, and for Matthew Johnson, it signifies the end of a long legal journey that began with the crime he committed 13 years ago.
