A death row inmate in Oklahoma was granted a last-minute reprieve just moments before his scheduled execution on Thursday, following an unexpected intervention from Governor Kevin Stitt.
Tremane Wood, 46, had been convicted of the 2002 killing of 19-year-old Ronnie Wipf during a robbery at a hotel in north Oklahoma City. His execution was due to take place at 10am local time (4pm UK time) at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester.
But shortly before the procedure, Governor Stitt accepted the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board’s recommendation that Wood’s life be spared, commuting his sentence to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
Wood, who has always denied being the killer, admitted taking part in the robbery but claimed it was his brother, Zjaiton Wood, who stabbed Wipf during the attack.
“I’m not a monster. I’m not a killer,” Tremane said during a recent video appearance before the parole board. “I never was, and I never have been.”
His attorney, Amanda Bass Castro Alves, supported his claim, stating that Zjaiton had confessed to multiple people that he was responsible for the fatal stabbing.
Despite the defence’s efforts, the US Supreme Court declined to halt the execution earlier in the week.
During his plea to the parole board, Tremane expressed regret for his role in the robbery, saying: “I regret my role in everything that happened that night.”
Prosecutors, however, portrayed Wood as a dangerous inmate who continued to engage in criminal activity behind bars. They accused him of drug trafficking, using contraband mobile phones, and organising assaults on fellow prisoners.
“Even within the confines of maximum security, Tremane Wood has continued to manipulate, exploit and harm others,” said Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond.
Governor Stitt reviewed arguments from both sides before making his decision. A spokesperson confirmed he met prosecutors, defence lawyers, and members of the victim’s family before announcing the clemency.
Stitt has granted clemency only once before during his nearly seven years in office. The Republican governor, now serving his second term, cannot run for re-election in 2026.
The decision marks a rare use of executive clemency in a state known for its high rate of executions in recent years.
Zjaiton Wood, who was serving a life sentence without parole for the same crime, died in prison in 2019.
The case has reignited debate in Oklahoma over the death penalty and the risk of wrongful execution, with campaigners saying the governor’s decision represents a cautious but necessary step.
Tremane Wood will now spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole.
His execution was one of three scheduled this week in the United States.
Editing by M10News Crime Desk | Contact: crime@m10news.com
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