Murder of Tracie McBride

{{Short description|American murder case}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox person | name = Tracie McBride | image = Tracie McBride.jpg | birth_name = Tracie Joy McBride | birth_date = {{Birth date|1975|5|27}} | birth_place = Centerville, Minnesota, U.S. | death_date = {{Death date and age|1995|2|18|1975|5|27}} | death_place = Coke County, Texas, U.S. | death_cause = Murder by blunt trauma | resting_place = Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minnesota | resting_place_coordinates = | relatives = | module = {{Infobox military person | embed = yes | allegiance = United States | service_years = 1993–1995 | branch = United States Army | rank = Private }} }}

On February 18, 1995, 19-year-old American soldier '''Tracie Joy McBride''' was kidnapped, raped, and murdered by 44-year-old American soldier '''Louis Jones Jr.''' in Texas. Jones abducted McBride from Goodfellow Air Force Base and raped her at his house before bludgeoning her to death under a highway bridge in Coke County. He had, on another occasion, sexually assaulted his ex-wife Sandra Lane and was arrested on March 1, and the ensuing police investigation found that he was also responsible for raping and murdering McBride. Jones was tried and convicted in the U.S. federal court system for kidnapping resulting in death; his crime was a federal case since it had begun on a military base. The rape was the prime aspect to the murder, making it a capital offense. Following his initial denials, Jones eventually confessed that he had raped McBride in addition to murdering her, and was sentenced to death. He later tried to contest his sentencing on the grounds that he had been suffering from Gulf War syndrome, but his appeals were rejected. Prosecutors argued that Jones had displayed violent tendencies even before the Gulf War, citing four incidents in which Jones had beaten up army colleagues.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2003-03-18 |title=US executes Gulf War veteran |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2861467.stm |access-date=2025-06-21 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

On March 18, 2003, the 53-year-old Jones was executed by lethal injection.

Mark Miller of ''Newsweek'' characterized Jones' case as unusual due to his Gulf War syndrome defense strategy.<ref name="MillerShould">Miller, Mark. "[http://www.newsweek.com/should-louis-jones-die-132259 Should Louis Jones Die?]" ''Newsweek''. March 12, 2003. Retrieved on July 17, 2016. "Prisoners seeking clemency from the White House are hardly unusual. But the Jones case is."</ref>

==Crime== On February 18, 1995, 44-year old Louis Jones drove onto Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo, Texas, and kidnapped Private Tracie Joy McBride,<ref name=Lubbockupholds>"[http://lubbockonline.com/stories/062399/loc_062399029.shtml Court upholds death penalty in Jones' murder conviction]". ''Lubbock Avalanche-Journal''. Wednesday, June 23, 1999. Retrieved on July 17, 2016.</ref> a 19-year old from Centerville, Minnesota.<ref name=Serranoexecutes>Serrano, Richard A. "[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-mar-19-na-execute19-story.html Gulf War Veteran Executed for 1995 Murder]". ''Los Angeles Times''. March 19, 2003. Retrieved on July 17, 2016.</ref> Jones was looking for his ex-wife, whom he had abducted and raped two days prior, but instead decided to kidnap McBride.<ref name=MillerShould/> McBride was at a laundry facility and on the telephone with a friend when she was abducted.<ref name=ChicagoTribguilty>"[https://www.chicagotribune.com/1995/10/23/former-army-ranger-found-guilty-of-soldiers-murder/ Former Army Ranger Found Guilty Of Soldier's Murder]". ''Chicago Tribune''. October 23, 1995. Retrieved on July 19, 2016.</ref> Two privates tried to rescue McBride, but Jones rendered one, Private Michael Peacock, unconscious by hitting him.<ref name=TDCJprofile>"[http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/death_row/dr_info/jonesl.jpg Louis Jones]". Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on July 18, 2016.</ref><ref name="USvJones5thCir1998" />

Jones took McBride to his house, raped her, and held her in a closet.<ref name=ChicagoTribguilty/> He forced McBride to use hydrogen peroxide on herself, washed McBride's clothes,<ref>"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhlXpHmQbY4 Life Interrupted]" (2007), ''Dr. G: Medical Examiner'', about 30:05–30:20. Uploaded onto YouTube by FilmRise True Crime.</ref> and forced McBride to walk on towels; these efforts were part of an attempt to conceal the crime by hiding any fibers and other possible evidence. He then drove McBride to a remote area and beat her to death with a tire iron.<ref name=MillerShould/> McBride died under a bridge<ref name=TDCJprofile/> off U.S. Route 277 in Coke County, Texas, about {{convert|27|mi|km}} north of San Angelo.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1995/03/02/Suspect-charged-in-soldiers-abduction/9616794120400/|title=Suspect charged in soldier's abduction|publisher=United Press International|date=1995-03-02|accessdate=2018-06-22}}</ref> McBride had been hit in the head at least nine times.<ref name=ChicagoTribguilty/> Dr. Jan Garavaglia, who was an associate medical examiner in Bexar County at the time of the murder, examined McBride's body. Garavaglia stated that the trauma to her head was "worse than most high-impact car wrecks".<ref>"Life Interrupted" (2007), ''Dr. G: Medical Examiner'', about 15:25–15:30 of 44:34.</ref> Jones likely forced McBride to walk to the point where she was killed; only mud was found on her boots, and no scuff marks were present.<ref>"Life Interrupted" (2007), ''Dr. G: Medical Examiner'', about 13:55–14:26.</ref> McBride's body was found clothed in her U.S. Army battle uniform, itself in excellent condition;<ref>"Life Interrupted" (2007), ''Dr. G: Medical Examiner'', about 11:50–12:10 of 44:34.</ref> the clothing had no forensic evidence of rape.<ref>"Life Interrupted" (2007), ''Dr. G: Medical Examiner'', about 13:25–13:35.</ref> The undergarments were not present.<ref name=TuftsEdgin>{{cite web|author=Tufts, John|author2=Alana Edgin|url=https://www.gosanangelo.com/story/news/2019/07/26/death-penalty-san-angelo-1995-tracie-mcbride-louis-jones-goodfellow/1833393001/|title=U.S. to resume executions: its last was for the murder of Tracie McBride of Goodfellow AFB|newspaper=San Angelo Standard-Times|publisher=Gannett Publishing|date=2019-07-26|accessdate=2019-08-03}}</ref>

Jones was arrested on March 1<ref name=TDCJprofile/> by the San Angelo Police Department for sexually assaulting his ex-wife, Staff Sergeant Sandra Lane, after she filed a complaint with the Air Force's Office of Special Investigations (OSI).<ref name=Cutlerp1224>{{cite journal|author=Cutler, Christopher Q.|url=https://digitalcommons.law.seattleu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com/&httpsredir=1&article=1647&context=sulr|title=Death Resurrected: The Reimplementation of the Federal Death Penalty|journal=Seattle University Law Review|page=1224 (PDF p. 36/42)|volume=23|issue=1189}}</ref> OSI agents made an inquiry to Jones on whether he was involved in McBride's abduction,<ref name=USvJones5thCir1998>"[https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F3/132/232/469339/ United States of America, Plaintiff-appellee, v. Louis Jones, Defendant-appellant, 132 F.3d 232 (5th Cir. 1998)]". Justia. January 5, 1998. Retrieved on March 1, 2019.</ref> and Jones confessed to killing her;<ref name=MillerShould/> he then led authorities to McBride's body.<ref name=StarTrib>"Echoes of an earlier execution Eight months before Alfonso Rodriguez Jr. killed Dru Sjodin, Louis Jones Jr. was put to death for killing Minnesotan Tracie McBride". ''Minneapolis Star Tribune''. September 24, 2006. Section Twin Cities + Region p. B1. [http://www.pressreader.com/usa/star-tribune/20060924/textview Available at] PressReader, [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MN&p_theme=mn&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_field_label-0=Section&s_dispstring=allfields(Echoes%20of%20an%20earlier%20execution)%20AND%20date(2006)&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=2006&p_field_advanced-0=&p_text_advanced-0=(%22Echoes%20of%20an%20earlier%20execution%22)&xcal_numdocs=50&p_perpage=25&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no Available at] the archives of the ''Star-Tribune''.</ref> Initially, Jones said he did not rape McBride.<ref>"Life Interrupted" (2007), ''Dr. G: Medical Examiner'', about 19:10–19:25.</ref> McBride's body was autopsied by Garavaglia at the Bexar County Forensic Science Center in San Antonio, Texas.<ref>"Life Interrupted" (2007), ''Dr. G: Medical Examiner'', about 6:45–6:55 of 44:34.</ref> Due to the unusually cool weather and the placement of the body under a bridge, the body was well preserved.<ref>"Life Interrupted" (2007), ''Dr. G: Medical Examiner'', about 21:30–22:05 of 44:34.</ref> Despite Jones' efforts to conceal the rape, Garavaglia was able to determine that Jones had raped McBride, and this fact allowed federal prosecutors to ask for the death penalty. Jones later confessed to a psychiatrist to raping McBride.<ref>"Life Interrupted" (2007), ''Dr. G: Medical Examiner'', about 32:45–33:15.</ref>

==Background== ===Louis Jones Jr.=== thumb|180px|Louis Jones, Jr. Jones, born on March 4, 1950, was a native of Shelby County, Tennessee,<ref name=TDCJprofile/> and grew up in Chicago.<ref name=CollinsDanCBSClemency>Collins, Dan. "[http://www.cbsnews.com/news/gulf-war-vet-asks-bush-for-clemency/ Gulf War Vet Asks Bush For Clemency]". ''Associated Press'' at CBS News. March 17, 2003. Retrieved on July 18, 2016.</ref> According to testimony presented at his criminal trial, Jones experienced sexual and physical abuse.<ref name=SerranoHeroKiller2/>

He served in the Army for 22 years.<ref name=CollinsDanCBSClemency/> Richard A. Serrano of the ''Los Angeles Times'' wrote, "It was in the Army where he excelled."<ref name=SerranoHeroKiller2/> Jones, a member of the U.S. Army Rangers, participated in the Invasion of Grenada and the Gulf War of 1991. He was the leader of a platoon in Grenada, and he received a Commendation Medal due to his actions during a ground attack in Iraq.<ref name=MillerShould/> He became a master sergeant and on his retirement in 1993 was honorably discharged from the Rangers.<ref name=CollinsCBSexecuted>Collins, Dan. "[http://www.cbsnews.com/news/gulf-war-vet-executed/ Gulf War Vet Executed]". CBS. February 19, 2003. Retrieved on July 17, 2016.</ref><ref name=CollinsDanCBSClemency/> At the time of the crime, he worked on base as a bus driver.<ref name=ChronTrialstarts>"Ex-Army Ranger's trial starts". ''Houston Chronicle''. October 16, 1995. Section A News, p. 13. Available on NewsBank, Record# HSC10161302363. Accessible from the Houston Public Library website with a library card.</ref>

Jones was married three times,<ref name=SerranoHeroKiller2>Serrano, Richard A. "[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jan-14-na-clemency14-story.html A War Hero, a Condemned Killer]". ''Los Angeles Times''. January 14, 2003. p. 2. Retrieved on July 17, 2016.</ref> and he had a daughter, Barbara,<ref name=StarTrib/> whom he raised on his own.<ref>"Life Interrupted" (2007), ''Dr. G: Medical Examiner'', about 15:55–16:05 of 44:34.</ref> One of his wives, Sandra Lane, was an Army staff sergeant.<ref name=SerranoHeroKiller2/> He became estranged from her,<ref name=MillerShould/> and she noted changes in his behavior after he returned from Iraq.<ref name=SerranoHeroKiller2/> Jones had no previous criminal record.<ref name=SerranoHeroKiller>Serrano, Richard A. "[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jan-14-na-clemency14-story.html A War Hero, a Condemned Killer]". ''Los Angeles Times''. January 14, 2003. p. 1. Retrieved on July 17, 2016.</ref> Before the killing, he worked low-paying jobs and received low grades in university courses.<ref name=SerranoHeroKiller2/> Lane filed an official complaint with the OSI on March 1, 1995, stating that, on February 16 of that year,<ref name=USvJones5thCir1998/> Jones had kidnapped her, made her take money out of her bank account, and committed sexual assault against her while at his residence.<ref name=TuftsEdgin/>

===Tracie McBride=== Tracie Joy McBride (May 27, 1975 – February 19, 1995<ref>[https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/find-a-grave-prod/photos/2005/102/7271363_111340052901.jpg Image of her grave] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202002327/https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/find-a-grave-prod/photos/2005/102/7271363_111340052901.jpg |date=2017-02-02 }} from Find a Grave. Retrieved on August 6, 2016.</ref>), a graduate of Centennial High School in Circle Pines, Minnesota,<ref name="Scholarship">Backus, Nick. "[http://www.presspubs.com/quad/news/article_344b3498-7569-11e2-a9f9-0019bb2963f4.html Nonprofit hosts 'Tracie's Night']". ''Quad Community Press''. Tuesday February 12, 2013. Retrieved on July 18, 2016.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Pvt Tracie Joy McBride (1975-1995) - Find A Grave...|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7271363/tracie-joy-mcbride|access-date=2022-01-19|website=www.findagrave.com|language=en}}</ref> was at the base for a two-week advanced intelligence training.<ref name=McBrideCongress>{{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/volume-141/issue-43/senate-section/article/S3679-2|title=Tribute to Private Tracie Joy McBride; Congressional Record Vol. 141, No. 43 (Senate – March 8, 1995)|publisher=Congress of the United States|access-date=2024-11-02}}</ref> McBride aspired to become a music teacher.<ref name=Scholarship/> McBride joined the United States Army after her high school graduation,<ref>"Life Interrupted" (2007), ''Dr. G: Medical Examiner'', about 3:16–3:19 of 44:34.</ref> intending to fund her university education; she hoped to have her degree completed prior to the end of her tour of duty.<ref>"Life Interrupted" (2007), ''Dr. G: Medical Examiner'', about 3:24–3:30 of 44:34.</ref> At the end of her life, McBride was in a romantic relationship with a member of the U.S. Marines.<ref>"Life Interrupted" (2007), ''Dr. G: Medical Examiner'', about 12:45–12:55 of 44:34.</ref> She was assigned to Goodfellow in early February 1995 after completion of training,<ref>"Life Interrupted" (2007), ''Dr. G: Medical Examiner'', about 4:00–4:06 of 44:34.</ref> at the Defense Language Institute at the Presidio of Monterey in Monterey, California.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}} McBride was kidnapped 10 days after her arrival.<ref>"Life Interrupted" (2007), ''Dr. G: Medical Examiner'', about 4:20–4:25 of 44:34.</ref>

==Trial, appeals, and execution== [[File:EllisUnitTX.jpg|thumb|Ellis Unit, where Jones was initially confined by Texas authorities]] [[File:TerreHauteUSP.jpg|thumb|United States Penitentiary, Terre Haute, where Jones was held on federal death row and executed]]

===Trial=== Jones, indicted in March 1995,<ref>"Former Ranger indicted". ''Associated Press'' at the ''Houston Chronicle''. March 9, 1995. Section A News, p. 29. Available on NewsBank, Record# HSC03091261018, Accessible from the Houston Public Library website with a library card.</ref> was tried in federal court in Lubbock, Texas, since he had kidnapped McBride from a military base.<ref name=Serranoexecutes/> His specific charge was "kidnapping within special maritime/territorial jurisdiction resulting in death".<ref>"[https://www.bop.gov/about/history/federal_executions.jsp Capital Punishment]". Federal Bureau of Prisons. Retrieved on July 19, 2016.</ref> U.S. Attorney Tanya K. Pierce was the prosecutor.<ref name=MillerShould/> McBride's family supported the prosecutor's decision to seek the death penalty for Jones.<ref>"A death wish for Tracie's killer A Minnesota family wants the kind of justice they couldn't get at home". ''Minneapolis Star-Tribune''. January 27, 2003. Retrieved on July 18, 2016.</ref> The trial was moved from San Angelo to Lubbock due to the news coverage in the former city.<ref name=ChronTrialstarts/>

The trial began on October{{spaces}}16, 1995.<ref name=USvJones5thCir1998/> Nine members of the twelve-person jury were female and 3 were male.<ref name=TuftsEdgin/> Jones stated that he committed the crime due to trauma he received during his military duties,<ref name=SerranoHeroKiller/> indicative of Gulf War syndrome.<ref name=MillerShould/> Evidence showing brain damage to Jones was presented.<ref name=Serranoexecutes/> Jones was convicted on October{{spaces}}23,<ref name=USvJones5thCir1998/> after two days of testimony and 65 minutes of deliberation from the jury.<ref name=ChicagoTribguilty/> After finding that Jones had intentionally killed McBride, the jury proceeded to sentencing.<ref name="USvJones5thCir1998" />

The sentencing phase involved the jury deliberating for 6.5 hours.<ref name="TuftsEdgin" /> The prosecution alleged four statutory aggravating circumstances and three non-statutory aggravating circumstances. The jury unanimously found two statutory aggravating circumstances: Jones killed McBride during the commission of a kidnapping and the murder involved torture or serious physical abuse to McBride, referring to the rape. The finding of statutory aggravating circumstances officially made the McBride's murder a capital offense. The jury rejected two other alleged statutory aggravating circumstances: Jones had knowingly put lives other than that of McBride at risk and the murder was premeditated. As for non-statutory aggravating circumstances, the jury unanimously found that McBride's family had suffered from her death and that McBride was vulnerable due to her young age and other characteristics, but rejected the argument that Jones would present a future danger.

The defense presented 11 mitigating circumstances, which a varying number of jurors agreed upon:

# Jones did not have a significant prior criminal record (6) # Jones's capacity to appreciate the wrongfulness of his actions were significantly impaired, regardless of whether the capacity was so impaired as to constitute a defense to the charge (2) # Jones committed the murder under severe mental or emotional disturbance (1) # Jones suffered physical, sexual, and emotional abuse as a child (4) # Jones's military service (8) # Jones would not be a problematic inmate (3) # Jones is remorseful (4) # Jones's daughter (9) # Jones was under a great deal of duress and/or stress at the time of the murder (3) # Jones suffered from numerous neurological or psychological disorders (1) # Other factors in the Jones's background or character mitigate against a verdict of death (0)

In addition, seven jurors found that the testimony of Jones's ex-wife, Sandra Lane, was a mitigating factor. Although Lane testified that Jones raped her in his apartment two days before he killed McBride, she also said that he seemed "very crazed" and was "spinning out of control, bouncing from thought to thought".<ref name="USvJones5thCir1998" />

On November 3, 1995, the jury came back with a unanimous recommendation for death.<ref name="USvJones5thCir1998" /><ref name="SerranoHeroKiller" /> On June 11, 1996, Jones was entered into the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) as prisoner #999195 under an agreement with federal authorities.<ref name="TDCJprofile" /> The State of Texas housed its male death-row inmates at the Ellis Unit near Huntsville, Texas.<ref>"[http://tdcj.state.tx.us/death_row/dr_facts.html Death Row Facts]". Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on July 18, 2016.</ref> On July 13, 1999, he was moved into federal custody,<ref>"[http://tdcj.state.tx.us/death_row/dr_offenders_no_longer_on_dr.html Offenders no longer on death row]". Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on July 18, 2016.</ref> to the newly opened men's death row at the United States Penitentiary in Terre Haute, Indiana.<ref name="Wardfederal">{{cite news|last=Ward|first=Mike|title=Texas death row empties 3 cells in a single day|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AASB&p_theme=aasb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_field_label-0=Author&p_field_label-1=title&p_bool_label-1=AND&s_dispstring=Texas%20death%20row%20empties%203%20cells%20in%20a%20single%20day%20AND%20date(all)&p_field_advanced-0=&p_text_advanced-0=(Texas%20death%20row%20empties%203%20cells%20in%20a%20single%20day)&xcal_numdocs=40&p_perpage=20&p_sort=_rank_:D&xcal_ranksort=4&xcal_useweights=yes|newspaper=Austin American-Statesman|date=July 19, 1999|accessdate=August 22, 2010|quote=Killers as Louis Jones 49 Juan Raul Garza 42 and Orlando Cordia Hall 28.}} - [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/148137365/ Clipping at] Newspapers.com.</ref> He was Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) prisoner #27265-077.<ref>"[https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/ Find an inmate.]" Federal Bureau of Prisons. Retrieved on July 18, 2016. Look for inmate#27265-077. Jones is listed as "Deceased 03/18/2003"</ref>

===Appeals=== Throughout the appeals process, Jones' lawyer, Tim Floyd, continued to argue that his death sentence should be commuted to life imprisonment since nerve gas from Iraq had damaged his brain. Floyd contacted University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center epidemiology department head, Dr. Robert Haley, who published the first major studies related to Gulf War syndrome, and asked him to review his client's medical records; Haley argued that Jones had sustained brain damage and that it "was responsible for the personality changes that contributed significantly to the tragic events of his crime."<ref name=MillerShould/> U.S. senator Kay Bailey Hutchison argued that Jones should have his brain scanned to check for damage before any death sentence would be carried out.<ref>"[https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=125320&page=1 Death Row Inmate Blames Gulf War]". ''Good Morning America''. ABC News. February 28, 2003. Retrieved on July 17, 2016.</ref> Ross Perot also called for a commutation of the sentence to life without parole.<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20030325182622/http://www.indystar.com/print/articles/7/029749-4807-093.html Gulf War veteran is executed]". ''Indianapolis Star''. March 18, 2003. Retrieved on July 18, 2016.</ref> Throughout the appeal process, McBride's family advocated for Jones' execution.<ref name=CollinsDanCBSClemency/>

In 1998, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit found that two of the non-statutory aggravating circumstances appeared to be redundant. However, they upheld the death sentence since they found that the aggravation still outweighed the mitigation.<ref name="USvJones5thCir1998" />

In 1999, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to overturn Jones' death sentence.<ref name=Liptak>Liptak, Adam. "[https://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/16/us/condemned-killer-exposed-to-nerve-gas-seeks-mercy.html Condemned Killer Exposed to Nerve Gas Seeks Mercy]". ''The New York Times''. March 16, 2003. Retrieved on July 18, 2016.</ref> Jones' final appeal for clemency from then-president of the United States George{{spaces}}W. Bush and his final appeal at the U.S. Supreme Court failed on March{{spaces}}17, 2003.<ref name=StarTrib/>

===Execution=== On March 18, 2003, Jones was executed by lethal injection at USP Terre Haute, making him the third federal prisoner executed after federal executions resumed in 2001.<ref name=CollinsCBSexecuted/> McBride's family and a friend were present at the execution.<ref name=StarTrib/>

Jones spent his last minutes reciting scripture and singing an old religious hymn. He offered no verbal apology to the McBride family but instead looked at his family in the witness room and mouthed the words "I love you." Asked if he had a last statement, Jones said: "Although the Lord hath chastised me sore, he hath not given me over unto death," from Psalms 118. Jones then started singing "Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross." He broke briefly to twice recite "Thank You Jesus" as the lethal cocktail of drugs began to take hold, eventually reducing his song to a whisper and then to silence.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Louis Jones, Jr. #837 |url=http://www.clarkprosecutor.org/html/death/US/jones837.htm |access-date=2025-06-21 |website=www.clarkprosecutor.org}}</ref>

After Jones's execution, his attorney read a written statement from him: "I accept full responsibility for the pain, anguish and the suffering I caused the McBrides for having taken Tracie from them." He said he would not ask "for forgiveness for the awful things done to Tracie. They continue to feel anguish and pain that will always be felt by them, and I felt forgiveness from the McBrides is something I had no right to ask for."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hosick|first=Dave|date=2003-03-19 |agency=Evansville Courier & Press |title=Gulf War vet executed for murder, rape |newspaper=Abilene Reporter-News|place=Abilene, Texas|page=1AA}} - [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/140649558/ Clip of article] at Newspapers.com, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98026197/forgiveness/ Clip of Jones quote]</ref>

Jones was the last person executed by the United States federal government<ref name=TuftsEdgin/> until July{{spaces}}14, 2020, when Daniel Lewis Lee was executed by lethal injection.<ref>{{Cite news|date=July 14, 2020|title=US executes first federal prisoner in 17 years|work=BBC|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-53401021|access-date=July 14, 2020}}</ref>

==Legacy== McBride was buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minnesota.<ref name=McBrideCongress/> The Tracie Joy McBride Scholarship Fund and its associated event, Tracie's Night, were named after her; the fund is primarily managed by her sister, Stacie McBride-Cox.<ref name=Scholarship/>

The episode "Life Interrupted" of the television show ''Dr. G: Medical Examiner'', first aired in 2007, describes this case.<ref>"[http://www.tv.com/shows/dr-g-medical-examiner/life-interrupted-1149393/ Life Interrupted]" {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202045517/http://www.tv.com/shows/dr-g-medical-examiner/life-interrupted-1149393/ |date=2017-02-02 }} TV.com. Retrieved on July 18, 2016.</ref>

In ''Human Behavior in the Social Environment: A Macro, National, and International Perspective'', author Rudolph Alexander Jr. wrote that experiences of soldiers during the 2000s Iraq War, in which over 3,700 coming back from the war in 2005 stated that they had fears that they may lose control of themselves or harm another person and that 1,700 reported believing that they were better off dead and considered hurting themselves, "provide support for Jones' claims."<ref>Alexander, Rudolph Jr. ''Human Behavior in the Social Environment: A Macro, National, and International Perspective''. SAGE Publications, December 2, 2009. {{ISBN|1412950805}}, 9781412950800. p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=vpbaqJxOc9kC&pg=PA70 70].</ref> 450,000 Americans served in the Gulf War.

==References== {{reflist|2}}

==Further reading== * {{cite news|last1=Tufts|first1=John|last2=Edgin|first2=Alana|url=https://www.gosanangelo.com/story/news/2019/07/26/death-penalty-san-angelo-1995-tracie-mcbride-louis-jones-goodfellow/1833393001/|title=U.S. to resume executions: its last was for the murder of Tracie McBride of Goodfellow AFB |newspaper=GoSan Angelo|date=2019-07-26}}

==External links== Legal documents * [https://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/97-9361.ZD.html Jones v. United States (97-9361) 527 U.S. 373 (1999)] * [https://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/97-9361.ZO.html ''Jones v. United States''] 97 U.S. 9361 (1999) Supreme Court of the United States decision. * [http://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/01/01-10142.cv0.wpd.pdf United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit No. 01-10142 United States of America, Plaintiff – Appellee, versus Louis Jones, Defendant – Appellant]. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20160719214217/http://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/01/01-10142.cv0.wpd.pdf Archive]) Other links * [http://www.tjmscholarshipfund.org Tracie Joy McBride Scholarship Fund] * {{IMDb title|tt1141066|title=Dr. G: Medical Examiner (2004–) "Life Interrupted": Episode aired Dec 14, 2007}}

{{s-start}} ! colspan="3" | Executions carried out by the United States federal government {{s-bef|before=Juan Garza|before2=<div style="font-weight: normal">June 19, 2001</div>}} {{s-ttl|title=Louis Jones Jr.|years=March 18, 2003}} {{s-aft|after=Daniel Lewis Lee|after2=<div style="font-weight: normal">July 14, 2020</div>}} |- ! colspan="3" | Executions carried out in the United States {{s-bef|before=Michael Thompson – Alabama|before2=<div style="font-weight: normal">March 13, 2003</div>}} {{s-ttl|title=Louis Jones Jr. – Federal government|years=March 18, 2003}} {{s-aft|after=Walanzo Robinson – Oklahoma|after2=<div style="font-weight: normal">March 18, 2003</div>}} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:McBride, Tracie}} Category:1990s missing person cases Category:1995 in Texas Category:1995 murders in the United States Category:Coke County, Texas Category:1990s crimes in Texas Category:Deaths by person in Texas Category:Domestic violence in the United States Category:February 1995 crimes in the United States Category:Missing person cases in Texas Category:Murder in Texas Category:San Angelo, Texas Category:Violence against African-American women in Texas Category:Violence against women in Texas Category:1990s kidnappings in the United States Category:Capital murder cases Category:Sexual assault in the United States military