Minutes before falling unconscious, Stouffer smiled and laughed with his spiritual advisor. He told God to forgive those who were putting him to death.
Bigler Stouffer is set to be executed on Thursday. On Wednesday, he spoke with The Frontier about his upcoming execution, how he felt about his clemency hearing, and reiterated he was innocent of killing Linda Reaves.
After more than 30 years on death row, Stouffer maintains his innocence but said he would rather die than spend life in prison.
Covering the death penalty is difficult, and often ugly, but it’s a responsibility I take seriously.
We’re looking for someone who can deliver a mix of political news and longer-term, watchdog stories that hold our state leaders accountable.
Gov. Kevin Stitt commuted Jones’ sentence to life without the possibility of parole just four hours shy of his execution and said he will never be eligible for further commutation, pardon or parole. But Jones’ family vowed to keep fighting for his release.
Julius Jones, 41, had been scheduled to be executed on Nov. 18. The governor’s ruling means Jones will now spend the rest of his life in prison.
The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board has voted to recommend clemency for a second man on death row over concerns about the state’s ability to carry out humane executions.
