AJ and Patsy Cantrell




Scott James Eizember


Summary of Offense:

On October 18, 2003, Eizember beat to death 76-year-old A.J. Cantrell and fatally shot Patsy Cantrell, 70. Eizember entered their home when the Cantrells were away, but they returned to their home to find Eizember there with a shotgun. Cantrell was beaten with the butt of his own shotgun. Eizember admitted killing Mr. Cantrell, but he denied shooting Mrs. Cantrell. The defense argued that Eizember had a difficult childhood and suffered from depression. Eizember had also been found guilty of shooting with intent to kill his ex-girlfriend’s 16-year-old son, Tyler Montgomery, and had also beaten his ex-girlfriend’s mother, Karla Wright. Defense attorneys argued that Eizember had not planned to kill the Cantrells, but instead went into their home to spy on the home across the street where his ex-girlfriend, Katherine Biggs, was staying. When he fled from the Cantrell’s home, Eizember stole a vehicle and drove to Arkansas where he allegedly kidnapped a doctor and his wife at gunpoint and forced them to drive him to Texas.

Eizember has been on death row since March 28, 2005.