The U.S. Supreme Court Wednesday stayed the scheduled execution of a convicted child killer, just hours before he was to be put to death, saying the justices wanted time to study his petition.
Kenneth Granviel, 41, who confessed to a total of seven slayings, was to be executed by injection shortly after midnight Wednesday for the Oct. 7, 1974, stabbing death of Natasha McClendon, 2, in Fort Worth.The toddler was killed during the course of the rape of her mother and aunt in a crime spree that left five dead. Authorities said Granviel also is believed responsible for a second crime spree in which two women were slain.
Granviel's attorney had earlier filed a request for a stay of execution with U.S. District Judge Eldon Mahon of Fort Worth. A court spokesman said Mahon had not made a decision by late Wednesday afternoon. The Supreme Court's decision voided any action Mahon might have taken.
Fort Worth attorney Danny Burns filed the appeal with Mahon late Tuesday.