Texas man convicted of killing ex-classmate set to be executed

DeathrowinmateMoisesMendoza,41,convictedofmurderingaformerhighschoolclassmatein2004,isscheduledtobethethirdmanexecutedbyTexasthisyear. Mendozaconfessedtothekillingof20-year-oldRachelleTollesoninasmalltownoutsideofDallasbeforehis2005trial.Accordingtocourtdocuments,MendozatookTollesonfromherhome,whereshewasalonewithher5-month-olddaughter,andsexuallyassaultedthewomanbeforekillingherandleavingherbodyinafield. MendozalatermovedTolleson’sbodytoamoreremotelocationandburnedit,whereamanfounditsixdayslater,accordingtocourtrecords.Mendozahascontestedthesexualassault,claimingTollesonleftwillinglywithhim,however,hedidadmittokillingher. Mendoza’slawyershavefiledseveralappeals,includingonetotheTexasCourtofCriminalAppeals,allegingprosecutorshadusedfalsetestimonyduringMendoza’ssentencingtoconvincejurorshewouldbeviolentwhileincarcerated.ThoseappealswerestruckdownApril15.Mendoza’slawyerssubsequentlyfiledforajudicialreviewoftheTexascourt�