HOUSTON — Two of the notorious “Texas 7” prison escapees have lost federal court appeals, moving them a step closer to execution for killing a Dallas-area police officer more than a decade ago after breaking out of a South Texas prison.George Rivas, considered the ringleader of the escapees, and companion Donald Newbury were turned down Thursday in separate appeals to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.They and five others became fugitives wanted nationwide after overpowering some workers at the Connally Unit prison, stealing their clothes, breaking into the prison armory to get guns and driving away.Two weeks later, on Christmas Eve, Irving police officer Aubrey Hawkins was gunned down when he interrupted their robbery of a sporting goods store.The men were caught a month later in Colorado.  Read about the Texas 7 in the Pikes Peak region, where they were captured.

A Teller County Sheriff’s deputy on Jan. 22, 2001, puts crime scene tape around an RV at the Coachlight RV Park in Woodland Park, where one of the Texas Seven was arrested and another killed himself. Photo by The Gazette file photo