Kevin Ray Underwood, convicted of the 2006 murder of 10-year-old Jamie Rose Bolin, was executed in Oklahoma on his 45th birthday. The lethal injection, Oklahoma’s fourth execution of 2024, utilized a three-drug cocktail and was witnessed by Bolin’s family. Underwood offered an apology before his death, while his attorneys unsuccessfully argued for clemency citing mental health issues. The execution brings the national total to 25 for the year, with Oklahoma tied for third-highest among states.
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President Biden is considering commuting the sentences of all 40 federal death row inmates, a move spurred by advocacy from religious and civil rights organizations. This action, potentially finalized before Christmas, faces strong Republican opposition, with concerns raised about prioritizing progressive politics over victims’ families. Attorney General Garland suggested exceptions for terrorism and hate crimes, potentially impacting high-profile cases like the Boston Marathon bombing. The commutations would directly counter the incoming Trump administration’s plans to resume federal executions.
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Judge Deborah Oakes Evans recused herself from the Robert Roberson case, delaying his impending execution for the murder of his two-year-old daughter. Roberson, convicted in 2003, maintains his innocence, claiming his daughter’s death resulted from a fall and medication side effects, not abuse. The case has drawn significant public attention and legal challenges, particularly concerning the diagnosis of “shaken baby syndrome.” With Judge Evans’ recusal, the district attorney will determine the next steps in the proceedings.
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Christopher Collings was executed by lethal injection for the 2007 rape and murder of Rowan Ford, a fourth-grader he knew through her family. Collings confessed to the crime, detailing how he assaulted and strangled the child before disposing of her body. Despite his attorney’s plea for clemency, the Supreme Court upheld the death sentence, and Governor Parson denied clemency. Collings expressed remorse in a final statement, while Governor Parson stated his hope that Rowan’s family could find peace.
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Arizona is resuming executions after a two-year pause, with Attorney General Kris Mayes seeking a death warrant for Aaron Brian Gunches in the coming weeks. This follows a review and improvement of the state’s lethal injection procedures to ensure compliance with legal and constitutional standards. The state plans to execute Gunches for the 2002 murder of Ted Price, and approximately 25 more death row inmates are awaiting execution. Mayes stated confidence in the legality of the renewed practice and emphasized her commitment to justice for victims’ families.
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Jose Ibarra was found guilty on all ten counts related to the murder of Laken Riley and a separate incident. The charges included malice murder, three counts of felony murder stemming from kidnapping with bodily injury, aggravated assault with intent to rape, and aggravated battery. Further convictions involved obstructing an emergency call, tampering with evidence (including Riley’s phone and Ibarra’s bloody clothing), and a separate peeping Tom charge. The prosecution presented compelling evidence, including witness testimonies, forensic analysis, and security footage, to support each charge.
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As of this report, Saudi Arabia has executed 101 foreign nationals in 2024, a drastic increase from the 34 executed annually in 2022 and 2023. This surge, deemed unprecedented by the European-Saudi Organization for Human Rights (ESOHR), surpasses previous records and includes individuals from numerous countries, primarily convicted of drug-related offenses. The increase follows the kingdom’s 2022 lifting of a moratorium on executions for drug crimes. This sharp rise in executions contradicts Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s 2022 statement about limiting capital punishment.
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A federal judge has granted a stay of execution to Thomas Creech, an Idaho inmate scheduled to be put to death next week. This comes after Creech survived a botched execution attempt in February, where authorities were unable to establish an IV line despite multiple attempts. Creech’s attorneys argued that another execution would constitute cruel and unusual punishment and violate double jeopardy principles. The judge’s decision grants a reprieve while the court further considers Creech’s appeal, with a supplemental brief due by Friday. This stay effectively suspends preparations for a second execution, as the current death warrant is set to expire on Wednesday.
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South Carolina executed Richard Moore, a black man convicted of murder, after the Supreme Court denied his appeal claiming prosecutors unjustly excluded black people from his trial’s jury. Moore, 59, killed James Mahoney, a convenience store clerk, in a 1999 robbery. His attorneys argued that he had killed Mahoney in self-defence. This was the second execution in South Carolina since the state resumed capital punishment after a 13-year pause due to difficulties obtaining lethal injection drugs. Moore had requested clemency from Governor Henry McMaster, which was denied.
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The news of the Texas inmate being called to testify before a state committee just hours before his scheduled execution is a stark reminder of the flaws in our justice system. The uncertainty of his fate, the possibility of him being innocent, and the last-minute nature of the decision highlight the deep-seated issues within the system. It’s perplexing to see a state so adamant about government intervention in the form of capital punishment, despite claims of valuing small government.
The notion of executing a potentially innocent person flies in the face of justice and basic human rights. The rush to carry out a death sentence, even in the face of new evidence or doubts about guilt, is deeply troubling.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker