Texas

‘Very precious:’ Baby boy killed by Texas death row inmate Travis James Mullis was loved

Published

1 year ago

September 23, 2024

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‘Very precious:’ Baby boy killed by Texas death row inmate Travis James Mullis was loved

In his short 3 months on Earth, baby Alijah was cherished, especially by his mother and grandmother. Alijah was killed at the hands of his own father, death row inmate Travis James Mullis.

This story includes a graphic description of crimes committed against an infant.

The son of a Texas death row inmate set to be executed this week never got the chance to make it out of infancy, dying at the hands of his own father over a decade ago.

There was no one more “extraordinarily beautiful” in the eyes of doting grandmother Carolyn Entriken than her grandson, 3-month-old Alijah James Mullis, who was born in October 2007, according to a March 2011 court transcript obtained by USA TODAY.

“He had steel blue eyes, cute little reddish hair,” Entriken told the court. “I know all babies are beautiful … He just was very precious.”

Entriken did make it out to Houston once before her grandson was tragically killed, spending some time in the area with her daughter, Caren Kohberger, Alijah and the baby’s father, Travis James Mullis.

But on Jan. 29, 2008, Entriken got a phone call no grandmother should ever get, learning from her daughter that Alijah had been killed.

She flew out the next morning to be with Kohberger, who was “pretty numb” after the death of her son and a confession from Mullis that he killed and abandoned Alijah at Galveston’s Seawall, a popular tourist destination just south of Houston.

Mullis is scheduled to be executed in Texas on Tuesday, about 16 years after he destroyed the only family he ever knew. Entriken died 14 years after Alijah in 2022, and Alijah’s mother declined to be interviewed.

As Mullis’ execution approaches, USA TODAY is looking back at the tragic crime and how perfect little Alijah was before his life was ended far too soon.

They looked like any young family

When Entriken learned that her daughter was pregnant in May 2007, she had some concerns. Up until then, she had been helping her daughter cover the cost of living expenses.

“My concerns were that she didn’t have many resources at that time. I didn’t know anything about the father of the baby,” said Entiken, who helped the couple out with whatever she could, whenever she could.

Entriken still remembered the day her daughter called her from the hospital in late October 2007 to share the news of Alijah’s birth.

“And (Alijah) must have been in the room with her. He was crying like a baby would. And I was very emotional now that he was here,” Entriken testified in March 2011.

Entriken didn’t officially meet her grandson until December that year, taking a trip from her home in norther New Jersey down to Houston with her second husband. They spent the weekend making memories, spending a lot of time on the beach in Galveston.

Mullis, according to Entriken, seemed “very loving and caring.”

“I have pictures that show his mannerisms that day. He had his arms around my daughter. They were being playful. He looked very loving,” Entriken said. “They looked like a young family out on an outing.”

Entriken had hoped to return to Texas in a few months for another visit with the young couple and her grandbaby, whom she described as “very calm”

“I wanted to come back and see Alijah,” Entriken said. “I didn’t want too much time to go by where he was growing up without my seeing him.”

Texas couple in disbelief after finding baby Alijah

The day that ripped Entriken’s family apart, Jesse Zaro and his wife were enjoying a day off, heading to the Galveston seawall after dropping their kids off at school, according to a court transcript.

The couple took trips to the beach often, collecting seashells or watching birds as they walked and talked.

The morning of Jan. 29, 2008 was no different. They stopped at a local donut shop, picking up a sweet treat before they made their way to the seawall. Zaro drove toward the “hurricane levee,” getting up on the wall to avoid dump trucks that were whizzing by.

Zaro was “cruising real slow” when saw what he initially thought was an abandoned doll when he looked to his left. There was something in him that told him he “better take a look at this.” So he pulled over, telling his wife to stay in the car.

What Zaro didn’t know at the time was that he had stumbled on Alijah, who had been choked, molested and stomped to death by his father.

“It was laying there. And it hurts my heart talking about this. I walked up to it and I was like ‘Oh God.’ I looked down and something hit my heart,” Zaro testified in March 2011. “It was like all the wind just left me. ‘God, it’s the horror. It was the horror, man.’”

He ran toward the car and waved at a passing dump truck to no avail, forgetting that they had a cellphone because “everything was going in slow motion.”

Zaro contacted authorities immediately.

“’Oh, my God. It’s a baby. I think it’s a baby. I can’t believe it. The baby’s dead,” according to an excerpt of Zaro’s 911 called used by the prosecution at trial. “I can’t believe it. Who would do this to a baby?”

What’s going to happen to Travis Mullis?

Following Alijah’s murder, Mullis convicted of murder and sentenced to death. Texas is set to execute him by lethal injection on Tuesday, which would make him the fourth person executed in the state this year and the 15th or 16th in the nation, depending on whether he’s declared dead before or after Marcellus Williams, another inmate set for execution in Missouri on the same day.

A Facebook page started to “honor and show love” to baby Alijah has photos and posts about him through 2020. One of them reads: “We love and miss you always, baby boy.”

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Texas

Sam Leavitt leaves Kentucky without committing and is now visiting Texas Tech

Published

2 hours ago

January 4, 2026

Press Room

Sam Leavitt leaves Kentucky without committing and is now visiting Texas Tech

Portal season is going to keep coaching staffs and program front offices up at night.

Apparently, it’s going to keep fans up at night as well. Kentucky fans are going to face that reality these next few days, maybe even a week or more, regarding quarterback Sam Leavitt, who visited Kentucky this weekend.

Unfortunately, Leavitt left Lexington without signing with the Wildcats. He’s now set to visit Texas Tech on Sunday, per On3’s Pete Nakos

Leavitt is one of the top players to enter the transfer portal after the window opened on Friday. He currently ranks as the No. 2 overall player and top quarterback to hit the open market, according to the On3 Industry Transfer Portal Rankings.

Leavitt is expected to be one of the most sought-after transfer quarterbacks this cycle after spending the last two seasons at Arizona State. He helped lead the Sun Devils to the College Football Playoff in 2024 before injuries impacted his production in 2025.

Wildcats fans are excited about the tantalizing prospect Leavitt is, but now the waiting game begins.

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Texas

How to Watch Oregon Ducks vs. Texas Tech: Preview, Prediction, Betting Odds

Published

6 days ago

December 29, 2025

Press Room

After a big win in the first round of the College Football Playoff, the No. 5 Oregon Ducks are on to the quarterfinals. Oregon coach Dan Lanning and the Ducks will take on the No. 4 Texas Tech Red Raiders in the Capital One Orange Bowl.

How To Watch

When: Thursday, Jan. 1, at 9 a.m. PT.
Where: Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Radio Call: Oregon Sports Network, KUJZ-FM 95.3 (Eugene), KRSK-105.1 FM/1080 AM (Portland)

Oregon quarterback Dante Moore greets Duck fans at the Moshofsky Sports Center before the College Football Playoff game between Oregon and James Madison Dec. 20, 2025. | Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Betting Odds

The Oregon Ducks are 2.5-point favorites against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on FanDuel Sportsbook. The moneyline for Oregon is -130, and the point total is set at 52.5.

Injury Update

The Oregon Ducks’ wide receiver unit is getting healthy at the right time. Wide receivers Gary Bryant Jr. and Dakorien Moore were both seen at practice on Saturday ahead of the game against Texas Tech.

Sep 13, 2025; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Headshot of Oregon Ducks wide receiver Dakorien Moore (1) against the Northwestern Wildcats during the second half at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images | David Banks-Imagn Images

Running back Jordon Davison has been a player to monitor, but was also seen back at practice, another positive sign for the Ducks.

The one player who was not seen during the open portion of practice by the media was wide receiver Evan Stewart. Stewart has yet to play in a game this season, and he will continue to be a player to monitor.

Oregon’s Explosive Offense To Play Key Role

The Oregon Ducks offense has been tough to stop, with its immense depth and explosive plays. The Ducks played well throughout the season despite injuries, but with players returning, Oregon will be tough to stop.

Nov 8, 2025; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore (5) runs off the field after the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images | Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

The Ducks lead the FBS with plays going for over 20 yards and are No. 2 in yards per rush, proving the team’s explosiveness. The Ducks total 217.08 rushing yards per game and 251.8 passing yards per game.

The Oregon offense is led by quarterback Dante Moore, who is having a breakout year. Moore totals 3,046 passing yards and 28 touchdowns. He threw four touchdowns against James Madison, but he will have to be careful against the Red Raiders after also throwing two interceptions. Moore also totals 196 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

MORE: Oregon Ducks Injury Update From Practice Highlights One Major Absence

MORE: Texas Tech Defensive Coordinator Shares Blunt Assessment of Dante Moore

MORE: Oregon Quarterback Austin Novosad’s Likely Landing Spot After Transfer Portal Entry

Wide receiver Malik Benson has been a role player amid injuries to the offense. Benson leads the team with 645 yards and six touchdowns. Tight end Kenyon Sadiq leads the team with eight touchdown receptions and has 509 receiving yards.

Moore does well at spreading the ball around to his several receiving targets, making Oregon a tough team to defend against the pass.

Nov 18, 2023; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Mountain America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Oregon’s talented running back room has been one of the many highlights of the offense. Running back Noah Whittington leads the team with 798 rushing yards and has six touchdowns. True freshman running back Jordon Davison leads the team with 13 rushing touchdowns and has 625 rushing yards.

While Whittington and Davison may be leading the team, running back Dierre Hill Jr. is coming off a massive game against the Dukes, with one rushing touchdown and a 40-yard reception.

The Oregon Ducks have playmakers on offense that will help lead to a win against the Red Raiders.

Ducks’ Defense Must Stay Consistent

Oregon has one of the most dominant defenses in college football, but the Ducks must play all four quarters against Texas Tech. Oregon’s defense allowed the Dukes to score four touchdowns in the second half, and that cannot happen against a tougher opponent.

Oregon Defensive Coordinator Tosh Lupoi runs a warmup drill with his team before the game against Oklahoma State at Autzen. | Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Oregon has allowed 16.3 points per game this season and is No. 4 in the nation in a three-and-out rate of 31.11 percent. The defense ranks No. 1 in the FBS for passes broken up (67), and will be a tough team to throw against.

Safety Dillon Thieneman is proving to be a massive transfer portal addition and is a big reason Oregon does well defending the pass. Thieneman totals 71 tackles, one sack, five passes defended, and two interceptions.

Oregon linebacker Bryce Boettcher has been a difference-maker with the Ducks throughout the season. He leads the team with 113 total tackles, and has one sack, four passes defended, one interception, and one forced fumble.

Linebacker Teitum Tuioti is another role player on the team, leading the Ducks with 7.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.

Oregon has a talented unit on defense, and the Ducks will have to be on top of their game to defeat Texas Tech.

Texas Tech To Pose Challenge

Nov 29, 2025; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Joey McGuire speaks to the media after defeating the West Virginia Mountaineers at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images | Ben Queen-Imagn Images

The Texas Tech Red Raiders enter the matchup with a 12-1 record and as Big 12 champions. With also coming off a bye, the Red Raiders should not be counted out.

Red Raiders quarterback Behren Morton has passed for 2,643 yards and 22 touchdowns. He has thrown just four interceptions this season, proving he can make smart decisions and is an accurate thrower.

Texas Tech wide receiver Caleb Douglas leads the team with 846 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. The Red Raiders’ run game has been highly successful this season and will test Oregon’s defense. Running back Cameron Dickey leads the team with 1,095 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns.

Two players on the Red Raiders’ defense who may play a critical role will be linebackers Jacob Rodriguez and David Bailey. Bailey leads the team with 13.5 sacks, going against a tough Oregon offensive line. Rodriguez leads the Red Raiders with 117 tackles and has four interceptions, seven forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries, one of which was returned for a touchdown.