To: District Attorney James Montoya, El Paso, Texas

Dear James Montoya,

You made a courageous and humane decision in the case of the tragic Walmart shooting in El Paso by choosing not to seek the death penalty. For many, this was a powerful signal that prosecution can be guided by responsibility, ethics, and foresight. We thank you for that.

Today we respectfully urge you, as the newly elected District Attorney of El Paso County, to re-examine the capital murder conviction of Tony Egbuna Ford, who has spent more than 30 years on Texas death row for a crime he did not commit.

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What Happened in 1991:

In 1991, Tony Ford gave a ride to two brothers, Van and Victor Belton. He drove the brothers at their request to a nearby residence of the Murillo's and waited in the truck for them as they entered the house. Tony had no idea that the brothers were planning to kill people. Inside, an argument broke out that ended in a fatal shooting. During the course of the crime, the person who broke into the house with Van Belton shot and killed Armando Murillo and shot and attempted to kill Ms. Murillo and her two daughters. The trial turned on the testimony of Armando’s two sisters, who claimed to identify Tony as the other intruder, the shooter. At trial, he testified in his own defense. Tony was arrested on December 19, 1991 - at the age of 18 - the day after the offense. He was indicted on one count of capital murder and three counts of attempted capital murder.

What the Evidence Shows:

A search of the homes of both the Belton brothers and Tony Ford followed.

 • At the Beltons’ residence, police found:

 • Stolen property from the victims

 •  .22 caliber bullets in the Beltons’ house, consistent with the type of weapon believed to have been used in the crime

 • At Tony Ford’s home, nothing at all was found that connected him to the crime. No physical evidence, no weapon, no stolen items.

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Key Concerns:

• The two eyewitnesses, sisters of the victim, testified at the trial and unequivocally identified Tony Ford as the shooter. Prior to the start of the trial, the court reporter overheard a conversation between the sisters and an assistant district attorney in the courtroom. When asked whether Tony Ford was the person who shot their brother, both sisters reportedly responded with uncertainty, saying 'it kind of looks like him'.
• Myra Murillo recognized Van Belton as one of the intruders because she had seen him in her neighbourhood. 
• According to three individuals who knew Victor Belton, he allegedly stated, between the time of the crime and the trial, that he had killed Armando Murillo and gotten away with it. 
• Neighbors observed – consistent with Tony’s trial testimony – that three people were involved in the crime, one of whom waited outside in a vehicle.

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Why This Conviction Is Unreliable

Tony Ford’s conviction has long been criticized for multiple reasons:

 1. No physical evidence connects him to the scene.

 2. For over 30 years, Tony has maintained his innocence and continues to  fight for justice with unwavering strength, dignity, and truth.
  3. The case has never undergone a full independent reinvestigation, despite growing concern about wrongful convictions from this era.

4. In multiple rounds of DNA testing, not a single piece of biological evidence connected Tony Ford to the crime scene. 

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This Is a Matter of Justice

Mr. Montoya, as the new District Attorney of El Paso County, you have the chance to act where others have failed. A man’s life is on the line. You have the power to ensure that a fair and objective review of Tony Ford’s case takes place — one that honors truth, not convenience.

We ask you to:

✅ Reopen the case of Tony Ford

✅ Allow an independent investigation of the original evidence and testimony

✅ Acknowledge that justice must not be sacrificed to protect flawed convictions

This is not just a legal issue. This is a human one.

Tony is a son, a brother, a life partner, friend — an artist, a writer, a deeply spiritual man who has touched the lives of many from behind prison walls. He has created art that speaks to love, struggle, freedom, and the beauty of human connection. He is not a number or a case file — he is a life worth saving.

We ask you to stand with us.

Stand for truth.

Stand for humanity.

Stand for justice.

🖊️ Sign this petition to:

 • Stop the execution of an innocent man

 • Help bring Tony Ford home

 Help us spread the word.

Share Tony’s story. Add your voice to the call for life and justice.

Tony Ford deserves to live. He deserves to be free.

Let’s make sure the world knows his name — and knows the truth.

The people of Texas deserve a justice system they can trust.

Sincerely,

Lucie Luna Piper