Texas

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

Published

4 months 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

Texas football: Which former Longhorns are paying in the NFL postseason?

Published

5 hours ago

January 18, 2025

Press Room

Texas football: Which former Longhorns are paying in the NFL postseason?

The Texas football season is over, but the NFL playoffs are underway.

The Longhorns sent a record 11 players into the NFL with the 2024 NFL draft and will send even more in 2025. The ultimate goal for those potential draftees will be to make the playoffs — just like a couple of Texas-exes who will be playing with a chance to advance past the divisional round this weekend.

WATCH TEXANS VS CHIEFS HERE

The upcoming games include the Houston Texans vs the Kansas City Chiefs and the Washington Commanders vs the Detroit Lions on Saturday and the Los Angeles Rams vs the Philadelphia Eagles and the Ravens vs the Bills on Sunday. The victors this week will move onto the conference title games, just one win away from the Super Bowl.

From big contributors to backups on the roster, here are the former Texas players left in the NFL playoffs.

Xavier Worthy, Kansas City Chiefs WR

The Kansas City Chiefs drafted Xavier Worthy in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft after the former Texas receiver ran the fastest 40-yard dash in NFL combine history.

When he was initially drafted fans believed Worthy would unlock Mahomes’ deep ball, reminiscent of Tyreek Hill’s prime days with the quarterback. However, Worthy’s role has been in the short passing game. He has 638 receiving yards this season with 416 of them coming after the catch according to Pro Football Focus. Worthy and the Chiefs will face the Houston Texans in the divisional round.

Charles Omenihu, Kansas City Chiefs DL

After tearing his ACL in the AFC Championship against the Baltimore Ravens, Charles Omenihu has returned to the lineup for another playoff run with the Chiefs.

Omenihu has played in six games this year and has collected six tackles and a sack. Last season, however, Omenihu was having a career season on the defensive line. The former Longhorn had 28 total tackles and seven sacks before the injury took him out for the Chiefs’ Super Bowl matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.

Jordan Whittington, Los Angeles Rams WR

Drafted in the sixth round by the Los Angeles Rams in 2024, Jordan Whittington earned a spot on the roster through his gritty playstyle and willingness to do whatever the team needs. He has 293 yards on 22 catches this season.

With wide receivers Puka Nakua and Cooper Kupp receiving the Lions’ share of targets, Whittington won’t see much pass-catching action in the playoffs. The Rams mostly use him as a run blocker and on special teams. He and the Rams will face the Philadelphia Eagles in the divisional round.

Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens K

One of the best kickers of all time, Justin Tucker has not been his usual stellar self.

He’s made 22 of his 30 attempts this season, for a 73.3% hit rate. It’s nearly 10% lower than his previous career low of 82.5% and it’s already cost the Ravens a few wins. The good news for Baltimore fans is Tucker has gone 21-of-21 on extra points and field goals since a disastrous three-of-six outing against the Eagles in early December.

The Ravens matchup with the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round.

Sam Cosmi, Washington Commanders OL

Drafted in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft by the Commanders, Sam Cosmi has quietly become one of the more reliable offensive guards in the league.

The Commanders’ offensive line has seen shuffle after shuffle over the past few seasons. Cosmi has been incredibly reliable for Washington, and they subsequently rewarded him with a four-year, $74 million deal this past offseason. The Commanders will face the Detroit Lions in the divisional round.

Andrew Beck, Houston Texans FB

Beck alternates between the Texans’ practice squad and their roster. He does not have a solid role and has played in four games this season.

Kris Boyd, Houston Texans DB

He has eight tackles on the season and likely won’t see much action against the Chiefs in the divisional round unless there is an injury.

Boyd has played sparingly for the Texans as the second-string cornerback behind Derek Stingley Jr., who’s having an All-Pro caliber season.

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Texas

AMBER ALERT: 8-year-old boy missing in Aransas Pass, suspect on the run

Published

13 hours ago

January 18, 2025

Press Room

AMBER ALERT: 8-year-old boy missing in Aransas Pass, suspect on the run

An AMBER Alert has been issued for 8-year-old Patrick Killian, who was taken from Aransas Pass, Texas. Authorities are searching for 41-year-old Jeffery Harris in connection with the abduction.

Texas Department of Public Safety says Patrick was last seen at noon on Friday, in the 2600 Block of Armstrong Rd in Aransas Pass, Texas. He is described as a white 8-year-old boy, approximately 4′0″ tall and weighing 50 lbs. He has blonde hair, and blue eyes, and was wearing black frame glasses at the time of his disappearance.

Patrick was last seen with 41-year-old Jeffery Harris, who is described as a white man, standing 5′9″ tall and weighing 215 lbs. Harris has brown hair and blue eyes.

Harris is believed to be driving a silver 2016 Hyundai Elantra with Texas license plate VDK447K.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Aransas Pass Police Department at 361-729-2222.I f you see the vehicle or have any details, please call 9-1-1.

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Betting odds, predictions: Arizona Wildcats shocking spread vs. Texas Tech basketball

Published

21 hours ago

January 17, 2025

Press Room

Betting odds, predictions: Arizona Wildcats shocking spread vs. Texas Tech basketball

Despite seven consecutive wins and a top-12 national ranking, the Arizona Wildcats are not expected to beat Texas Tech on Saturday.

The latest betting odds for Arizona’s Big 12 matchup vs. the Red Raiders in Lubbock, Texas, favor the home team by at least 5.5 points.

Big 12 road games are tough, but that’s still a shocking spread for a team that is playing as well as Arizona. Texas Tech (12-4, 3-2) has lost its last two home games — 85-84 in OT to Iowa State and 87-83 to UCF.

Arizona (11-5, 5-0) is 2-0 on the road in the Big 12 so far. The Wildcats beat Cincinnati 72-67 and West Virginia 75-56.

Fifth-year senior Caleb Love leads Arizona in scoring at 15.3 points per game. Junior guard Jaden Bradley is averaging 11.7 points and sophomore guard KJ Lewis is averaging 10.6 points.

New Mexico transfer JT Toppin leads Texas Tech in scoring and rebounding at 16.3 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. But it’s forward Darrion Williams (16.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 4.9 apg) and guard Chance McMillian (14.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg) that make the Red Raiders go. They’re both versatile defenders and will be difficult matchups for Arizona.

The Arizona at Texas Tech game is scheduled to tip off at 12 p.m. MST on Saturday. Here are the latest betting odds.

Arizona at Texas Tech Betting Odds, Spread, Predictions

(Rankings references are from the NCAA’s NET Rankings, which are used as the primary sorting tool for selection and seeding for the 2025 NCAA Tournament.)

The oddsmakers have Texas Tech as 5.5-point favorites. Here are the latest betting odds, courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.

Who: No. 12 Arizona at No. 19 Texas Tech in Big 12 men’s basketball

Moneyline: Arizona +172, Texas Tech -210

Spread: Arizona +5.5 (-120)

Over/Under: 150.5

When: 12 p.m. MST/1 p.m. CT | Saturday, January 18

Where: United Supermarkets Arena | Lubbock, Texas

Live Stream: Watch Arizona-Texas Tech live on fuboTV (Start your free trial)

TV Channel: ESPN2

ESPN FPI Prediction: Arizona has a 49.4% chance to win

Our Prediction: Arizona 73, Texas Tech 68