Dennis Thurl Dowthitt v. Gary L. Johnson, Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division

KING, Chief Judge:

Texas death row inmate Dennis Thurl Dowthitt appeals from the district court’s denial of habeas corpus relief. In order to obtain review of his claims, Dowthitt seeks a certificate of appealability (COA) from this court, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2). We deny Dowthitt’s request for a COA.

L FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

At Dowthitt’s trial, the State presented evidence that Dowthitt and his son, Delton Dowthitt (“Delton”), age 16, picked up Gracie and Tiffany Purnhagen, ages 16 and 9, respectively, on June 13, 1990 in a bowling alley parking lot. According to Delton’s…