Rubio gets death penalty for killing three children

An Hidalgo County jury has sentenced John Allen Rubio to death for decapitating three young children.

The packed courtroom was very quiet as 370th state District Judge Noe Gonzalez read the charges against Rubio.

The judge then gave Rubio the chance to address the court.

"I'm sorry it had to come to this," Rubio told the jurors as he cried quietly. He also thanked the jury for "giving him the opportunity to show what he could..." he left his thoughts unfinished.

The judge then read the death sentence.

Judge Gonzalez told Rubio, "I have given more death sentences than any other judge in south Texas and it never gets easy."

He also told Rubio if he wants forgiveness he'll have to get it from a higher source.

"I cant imagine anyone hurting their children, much less at that age," the judge said.

Afterwards Rubio was handcuffed and taken away.

The jury began deliberating Rubio's punishment around 11:30 this morning and returned with the verdict just before 3:30 p.m.

On Monday the same jury convicted Rubio of the murders of Julissa Quesada, 3, John E. Rubio, 14 months, and Mary Jane Rubio, 2 months, the children of his common-law wife Angela Camacho.

Rubio is the father of the youngest child.