SAN ANTONIO – The man charged with attacking his ex-wife and two young daughters, killing one of them, found out he will be facing the death penalty when he goes to trial.
Stephen Clare has been charged with capital murder, attempted capital murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
He’s accused of shooting Mariah Clare and stabbing his two daughters on April 10, 2023. Willow Clare, his 11-month-old daughter, died as a result of her injuries.
In court Thursday, the state told 437th District Court Judge Joel Perez they would be pursuing the death penalty in this case.
The last time the death penalty was applied in Bexar County was the case of Otis McKane who was convicted of the murder of SAPD Detective Benjamin Marconi.
McKane went to trial in 2021 and was found guilty and later sentenced to death.
Usually capital murder cases don’t go to trial for at least a year or two. In the case of McKane it took five years before it went to trial, but that was because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Just because the death penalty is on the table doesn’t a jury would select that option as life in prison without parole is also available to chose from if Clare is found guilty.
Perez ordered a March 4 hearing to work on a scheduling order for the case. This is basically a timeline of how the case would proceed and possibly set a trial date.