TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Name:  Balentine, John Lezell

TDCJ Number:  999315

Date of Birth:  01/30/1969

Date Received:  06/11/1999

Age (when Received):  30

Education Level (Highest Grade Completed):  10

Date of Offense:  01/21/1998

Age (at the time of Offense):  28

County:  Potter

Race:  Black

Gender:  Male

Hair Color:  Black

Height (in Feet and Inches):  5′ 8″

Weight (in Pounds):  190

Eye Color:  Brown

Native County:  Jackson

Native State:  Arkansas

Prior Occupation:  auto mechanic, laborer

Prior Prison Record:  Convicted in Arkansas for Burglary; Conditionally released 3/82; Jackson County, Arkansas Cardinal Abuse Kidnapping and Aggravated Assault with a Knife; Arkansas Department of Corrections #883268 on a 5 year sentence for Burglary; released on Parole 4/89; returned as a Parole Violator with a new conviction 5 year sentence for Assessor to Robbery (cousin and one co-defendant robbed 14-year old white male by hitting him on the head with a bottle) #88326B; released on Parole 3/93 and discharged 4/93.

Summary of Incident:  On 01/21/98 in Amarillo, Texas, Balentine fatally shot 3 white males, 17 year old Edward Mark Caylor, 15 year old Kai Brooke Geyer and 15 year old Steven Brady Watson, once each in the head with a 32-caliber pistol. Balentine entered the residence during the night, and committed the murders while the victims were sleeping.

Co-Defendants:  None

Race and Gender of Victim:  White males (3)