Huntsville, Texas ? A former farm worker from central Texas was executed Wednesday in Huntsville for beating a man to death with a car jack during a violent spree 17 years ago.

Gary Sterling, 38, was the 11th inmate executed by injection this year in Texas, the nation’s most active capital punishment state.

He was condemned for the May 1988 death of John Carty, 72, at his home near Corsicana. Prosecutors also had evidence tying Sterling to the slaying of Delores Smith, 52, a friend of Carty’s whose purse and glasses were found at Sterling’s home.

Sterling led police to their bodies after he was arrested for the slayings of brothers William Porter, 72, and Leroy Porter, 71, near Waco. He pleaded guilty to their slayings and received two life prison terms.

Authorities said Sterling knew the four victims, all of whom were beaten to death.