Richard Glossip was a former death row inmate who gained national attention due to his case being a subject of investigation by various organizations and individuals. He was convicted of murder in 1998 and was scheduled to be executed in 2015. However, his execution was delayed several times due to legal appeals and public pressure.
The Crime and the Trial
Glossip was convicted of the murder of Barry Van Treese, the owner of the motel where Glossip worked as a maintenance man. The prosecution argued that Glossip had hired a coworker, Justin Sneed, to kill Van Treese in exchange for money. Sneed later confessed to the crime and testified against Glossip in court.
Glossip maintained his innocence and his defense team argued that he had no motive to commit the crime and that the prosecution’s case was based solely on Sneed’s testimony. However, the jury found him guilty and he was sentenced to death.
The Investigation and the Controversy
After Glossip’s conviction, various organizations and individuals began investigating his case and raised concerns about the fairness of his trial and the reliability of Sneed’s testimony. Some argued that Glossip was a victim of a flawed justice system and that he was wrongfully convicted.
Supporters of Glossip, including actress Susan Sarandon and Sister Helen Prejean, a prominent anti-death penalty advocate, also joined the campaign to save his life. They argued that there was not enough evidence to prove Glossip’s guilt and that he deserved a fair trial.
The Stay of Execution and the Legal Battle
Glossip’s execution was scheduled for September 16, 2015, but it was delayed twice due to legal appeals. His defense team argued that the state’s lethal injection protocol was unconstitutional and that there was a risk of causing him severe pain during the execution.
The case went all the way up to the Supreme Court, which declined to grant Glossip a stay of execution. However, a few hours later, Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin granted a stay of execution, citing concerns about the state’s lethal injection protocol.
The Aftermath
Despite the delay in his execution, Glossip’s legal battle continued. His defense team appealed his conviction and argued that there was not enough evidence to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. However, their appeals were denied and Glossip remained on death row.
On September 30, 2020, Glossip was resentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals overturned his death sentence. The court ruled that the state had used an unconstitutional lethal injection protocol in his case and that he should not have been sentenced to death.
