Huntsville, TX — On Wednesday, January 28, 2026, Charles Thompson, 55, is set to be executed by lethal injection at the Huntsville Unit of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. His execution, which will occur barring any last-minute court intervention or executive action, marks the culmination of nearly three decades of legal battles following his conviction for the 1998 double homicide in Houston, Texas.

Thompson was found guilty of fatally shooting his former girlfriend, Dennise Hayslip, 39, and her new boyfriend, Darren Cain, 30, in what prosecutors called a domestic-related confrontation. Evidence presented at trial showed that the killings were deliberate and targeted. The jury sentenced Thompson to death for Hayslip’s murder and life imprisonment for Cain’s murder.

Over the years, Thompson’s conviction and sentence have been upheld through numerous levels of appeal. Now, with most of his legal challenges exhausted, the focus has shifted to any remaining options, including potential last-minute appeals or a request for clemency through the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles or the Governor’s Office. As of now, no stay of execution has been announced.