A man who spent 10 years on death row was executed early today for murdering a probation officer.

Joseph Starvaggi, a 34-year-old cement finisher and native of Champaign, Ill., was pronounced dead shortly after midnight by Charles Brown, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Corrections.

Mr. Starvaggi, who made no last statement, was executed by lethal injection for the slaying of John Denson, who was killed during a 1976 burglary at his home as the victim's wife and daughter huddled under a nearby blanket.
