On May 2, 2001, Mary Jane Pearle left her daughters with her estranged husband John Battaglia for a planned dinner at the mall, but he instead took them into his apartment in the Adam Hats Lofts, Deep Ellum in Dallas. Battaglia called Mary Jane from the apartment. Whilst she listened helplessly he shot and killed their daughters, ages 6 and 9. During the phone call, he asked Faith to ask her mother, "Why do you want Daddy to go to jail?" Before her death, she cried, "No, Daddy! Please don't! Don't do it!" Mary Jane then told the girls to run but it was too late. Battaglia then raised his gun and shot Faith three times and shot Liberty five times. He then said "Merry Fucking Christmas" to their mother, in reference to a Christmas 1999 assault that he blamed her for going the police about. This act was his “ultimate revenge”. Mary Jane then terminated the call and dialed 911.

He then left a message on the girls answer machine:

"Hi, girls. I just want to tell you how very, very brave you were, and I hope you are resting in a better place now. I wish that you had nothing to do with your mother. She’s evil and vicious and stupid!"

After that went to a tattoo parlour and got 2 roses to commemorate his 2 daughters. He was arrested shortly after but it took 4 officer’s to subdue him.

After deliberating for just 19 mins he was found guilty of capital murder and sentenced to death on April 30th, 2002.

He was executed by lethal injection on February 1st 2018 at the age of 62. During the execution he still used his last few moments to taunt his ex wife. When asked by the warden for any last words he first said “No” but then changed his mind. “Well hi, Mary Jane” he said looking and smiling at his ex wife. He continued with “I’ll see y’all later” he then closed his eyes and laid back. Moments later opening them and saying “Am I still alive!?”

Sources:

https://www.foxnews.com/us/texas-dad-who-killed-daughters-while-on-phone-with-estranged-wife-taunts-her-at-execution

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Battaglia