Texas is scheduled to execute Cedrick Ricks on March 11, 2026, for the 2013 murders of Roxanne Sanchez and her 8-year-old son, Anthony Figueroa. More than a decade after the crime, the case remains one of the most disturbing capital murder prosecutions in recent Texas history, due largely to the testimony of a surviving child who endured a brutal attack and later became a key witness at trial.
The crimes occurred inside an apartment in Bedford, Texas, where prosecutors alleged that Ricks attacked multiple members of the family with a knife. Roxanne Sanchez and her young son Anthony were killed during the incident. Another child, 12-year-old Marcus Figueroa, survived despite suffering numerous stab wounds.
According to testimony presented in court, Marcus provided investigators with critical information about the attack and later testified during trial. His account became one of the most powerful pieces of evidence presented by prosecutors and drew significant attention because of the severity of his injuries and his ability to survive.
Investigators also obtained statements and other evidence linking Ricks to the murders. Prosecutors argued that the evidence overwhelmingly established his guilt. The case moved quickly through the courts, with jurors convicting Ricks of capital murder after a relatively brief period of deliberation.
During the punishment phase, defense attorneys presented evidence concerning Ricks’ background and mental health history. Attorneys argued that neurological and psychological factors should be considered as mitigating evidence. Prosecutors countered that the brutality of the crimes justified the death penalty.
The jury ultimately sentenced Ricks to death. In the years that followed, his attorneys pursued appeals through state and federal courts. Like many capital cases, the litigation focused on constitutional issues, trial procedures, and claims raised after conviction. Courts repeatedly upheld both the conviction and sentence.
As the scheduled execution date approaches, the case has again attracted public attention. Supporters of the sentence argue that the conviction was supported by overwhelming evidence and that the victims’ family has waited more than a decade for the legal process to conclude. Others continue to debate broader issues involving mitigation evidence, mental health considerations, and the role of capital punishment within the criminal justice system.
At present, Texas officials have scheduled the execution for March 11, 2026, at the Huntsville Unit. Unless courts intervene or additional legal action changes the schedule, the execution will mark the final chapter in a case that has remained one of the most closely followed capital murder prosecutions in North Texas.
More than twelve years after the murders of Roxanne Sanchez and Anthony Figueroa, the case continues to be remembered for both the devastating loss suffered by a family and the extraordinary survival of a child witness whose testimony became central to the pursuit of justice.
