THIRTY-YEAR-OLD TONY ROACH IS THE FIRST OF FIVE CONVICTED KILLERS SCHEDULED FOR LETHAL INJECTION THIS MONTH AS TEXAS CONTINUES TO BUILD ON ITS STATUS AS THE NATION'S MOST ACTIVE
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT STATE.
 ROACH IS TO DIE FOR STRANGLING 37-YEAR-OLD RONNIE DAWN HEWITT WITH A BELT AFTER BREAKING INTO HER APARTMENT IN 1998.
     IT WAS ALSO REPORTED THAT ROACH SEXUALLY ASSAULTED THE DEAD BODY.
     HIS PUNISHMENT WOULD BE THE 24TH EXECUTION IN TEXAS THIS YEAR - EQUALING THE TOTAL FOR ALL OF LAST YEAR.
 THE RECORD FOR TEXAS EXECUTIONS IN A YEAR IS 40, SET IN 2000.