LIVINGSTON, TX -- The execution of one of Texas' longest serving death row inmates has been delayed by a state judge.

Lester Leroy Bower, Jr., was set to die on July 22 for the 1983 murder of four Grayson County men.

The bodies of Bob Tate, Philip Good, Ronnie Mayes and Jerry 'Mac' Brown were found in an airplane hangar just outside of Sherman in October of 1983.

Bower was convicted and sentenced to death for the murders.

At least five previous attempts to execute him have been blocked by the courts.

An order by 15th State District Judge, Jim Fallon, grants Bower's prolonged request for a court to decide whether cigarette butts and strands of hair found at the murder scene will undergo DNA testing.

Grayson County District Attorney Joe Brown says the request to test the cigarette butts for DNA could have been made years ago.

"If it comes back to Bower, it shows his guilt, if it comes back to somebody else, there were many other people in that airplane hangar, so it's not something we think will exonerate him."

Brown says the years of waiting have been frustrating to the victims' families.

"We’re going to push as hard as we can to get justice done for the families."

Former Grayson County Sheriff Jack Driscoll was one of the lead investigators on this case. He declined an on-camera interview, but did provide us this statement regarding the delay of Bower's execution.

"This man decimated four families forever, and for the sake of them again being denied closure in this matter, I’m very discouraged about the new stay of execution. They don't deserve to have that anguish linger on."

One of Lester Bower's attorneys, Anthony Roth released this statement:

"We're obviously pleased that the court withdrew the execution date for later this month. We believe the issues they're raising are important, and should be considered without the time constraints imposed by an imminent execution date. We're eager to move forward with presenting the issues."

Roth says the preliminary hearing on the issue is set for July 17, in the 15th District Court.

Monday on First News, hear from the wives of two of the murder victims, and what they think should happen to Lester Bower.