Death row inmate from Willis gives his first ever TV interview to FOX 26

LIVINGSTON, Texas (FOX 26) - “Karma is a son of a gun. when you’ve done these things, it’s going to come back to haunt you,” said death row inmate Larry Swearingen.

In Swearingen’s mind Karma’s target is the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office. Swearingen has maintained his innocence for many years.

“From the very beginning I’ve testified about that, yes,” the death row inmate said.

"If guilt was a gorilla, this guy is King Kong of guilt,” said Montgomery County D.A. Brett Ligon.

As far as the D.A. is concerned Karma will pay Swearingen a visit on November 16. That’s his execution date for raping and strangling Melissa Trotter back in 1998. Ligon says he’s convinced Swearingen is guilty.

“Not only am I convinced but every court that has reviewed this case," the D.A. said.

“We were just friends," said Swearingen.

While Swearingen admits to knowing Trotter, he’s adamant about his innocence and has been asking for DNA testing to prove it since 2004.

“This is a rape and murder case. You said I raped this girl, the pubic hairs they testified at trial that excluded me they have lost,’ said Swearingen.

“He was excluded by the state’s own forensic examiner and then that pubic hair went missing when they sent it up to the FBI for DNA testing,’ said Swearingen’s attorney James Rytting. “That’s the only piece of evidence that we know of that’s gone missing.”

Yes the pubic hair evidence is missing the D.A. says but it did nothing to disprove the mountain of evidence against Swearingen.

“These issues have been litigated, many of which have been found to be frivolous and there’s no sense in me going point by point with a sex fiend and a convicted murderer,” Ligon said.

We asked Swearingen if he would have a change of heart right before his execution and confess his guilt.

“No. They might hear a few choice words that I didn’t do it, but no there will be no deathbed 'I’m sorry' none of that, zero,” Swearingen said.

"Justice will be served on November 16 absolutely without a doubt,” Ligon said. “And I’ve got no qualms and I will sleep well at night.’

The Innocence Project will be filing appeals in hopes of halting Swearingen’s November execution.