Larry Hatten was 21 years old when he broke into a woman's home, wounding her and killing her five-year-old boy in 1995. He was sentenced to death.
On Tuesday, after nearly 22 years of waiting for a date to be set, family of the victims spoke with Kiii News Anchor Rudy Trevino about the case.
Five-year-old Isaac Charles Jackson was killed in a barrage of bullets on the night of Sept. 19, 1995. The home on Sam Rankin was riddled with bullets meant for Jackson's mother, Tabatha Thompson.
The Jackson family was in court Tuesday to hear Judge Missy Medary order Hatten be returned to court. The judge also read a letter received from Hatten.
At issue is Hatten's indecisiveness. He has sent the court several letters over the years, some asking that all appeals be dropped and several others asking the court to continue the appeal process. His attorney, Ben Wolf, told the judge his client has issues.
"He's seriously mentally ill, and he has a 21-year history of being treated for paranoid schizophrenia by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice," Wolf said.
Outside the courtroom, the victim's sister questioned Hatten's mental issues.
"One minute he's ready for the death penalty and if you ask me, its to buy his time to get out to see his family," Lashonn Devones said.
A hearing date has been set for the end of May in the 347th District Court. Along with Hatten's appearance, his attorney said he expects to present at least a half-dozen witnesses including a former psychiatrist that evaluated Hatten.
For the family of the victims, who've remained silent for 21 years, they hope this will be the last time they have to come to court.