Michael Perry and Jason Burkett

Before his parole, Delbert Burkett was in a prison across the street from his son. He had been serving a 40-year sentence for indecency with a child. Delbert Burkett died on June 6, 2022, at the age of 66.

Perry was executed by lethal injection at the Huntsville Unit on July 1, 2010. Perry's last words were "Yes, I want to start off by saying to everyone know that's involved in this atrocity that they are all forgiven by me. Mom, I love you..... I am ready to go Warden. Coming home dad, coming home dad" (Perry's adoptive father had died several months earlier). Perry cried as he spoke.

Perry's adoptive parents eventually sent him to a private residential treatment program in Mexico which housed many other American youths with behavioral problems. Perry dropped out when he was 18, and the facility was shut down by the Mexican government in 2004.

In February 2003, Perry was found guilty of capital murder after the jury deliberated for two hours. Among the evidence was Perry's DNA on a cigarette butt underneath one of the victims. The jury deliberated another six hours before deciding that Perry deserved to be executed. During the trial, Perry said he was innocent and claimed his confession had been coerced."

In October 2003, Burkett was also found guilty of capital murder. During the sentencing phase, psychologists and family members testified about his dysfunctional upbringing. The defense had Delbert Burkett brought from prison to testify. Delbert begged the jury to spare his son's life, saying he had been a horrible father who failed his son and his family. After Delbert left the courtroom, two women broke down in tears. Jason would be spared execution by two votes.

On May 22, 2001, Perry was arrested after shooting at a house. On October 2, 2001, he was arrested after trying to present a fake prescription for Xanax.

On October 24, 2001, Perry and Burkett, both then 19, decided they needed new cars. They went to the home where 50-year-old Sandra Stotler lived with her 17-year-old son and Perry's acquaintance, Adam Stotler. They targeted the Stotlers since they knew they were rich and had "a newer Camaro and Isuzu Rodeo." The two devised a plan to ask Sandra to spend the night there and then steal her Camaro while they were asleep. Perry and Burkett arrived at her home in the late evening, driving the truck of Burkett's girlfriend. Sandra told them that her son would not be home for another two hours.

In 1997, Perry was sent to Boys Town, a reform school founded by Edward J. Flanagan in Nebraska. Three months later, he threatened an official there, saying "You know, you people work here. I don’t know why you work here. People like me who are going to rape or kill your kids, you know." Perry was then sent to the locked section of the facility for four months. He did not meet the requirements for the mental health treatment provided at the facility.

Michael James Perry (April 9, 1982 – July 1, 2010) and Jason Aaron Burkett (born July 31, 1982) were American spree killers who killed three people in Texas in 2001. They were both tried and convicted of capital murder for the killings. Perry was sentenced to death and executed in 2010, while Burkett received a life sentence. Their cases were later the subject of Werner Herzog's 2011 documentary, Into the Abyss.