Oklahoma Governor Commutes Death Sentence Hours Before Execution

Oklahoma Governor Commutes Death Sentence Hours Before Execution

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt granted clemency to death row inmate Tremane Wood, 46, on Thursday, commuting his sentence to life in prison without parole just hours before his scheduled lethal injection. The decision followed a recommendation by the state's Pardon and Parole Board and came after Wood was found unresponsive in his cell due to dehydration and stress, officials reported.

Last-Minute Clemency and Medical Incident

Wood, convicted in 2004 for the fatal stabbing of farmworker Ronnie Wipf during a 2001 robbery, was spared execution after Stitt cited a "thorough review of the facts and prayerful consideration." Within hours of the announcement, prison officials discovered Wood unresponsive in his cell. He was rushed to a hospital but later reported feeling fine. Authorities attributed the incident to dehydration and stress, noting Wood had refused food and water since Wednesday evening, believing it would be his final meal.

"After a thorough review of the facts and prayerful consideration, I have chosen to accept the Pardon and Parole Board's recommendation to commute Tremane Wood's sentence to life without parole," Stitt stated. This marks the second time Stitt has granted clemency to a death row inmate since taking office in 2019.

Family Opposition and Legal Controversy

The victim's family had publicly opposed Wood's execution, a stance echoed by Arnold Kleinsasser, a survivor of the robbery. Wood's attorneys, including Amanda Bass Castro-Alves, welcomed the decision, calling it an act of "moral courage" that honors Wipf's family and the surviving victim. They argued Wood's 2004 trial was compromised by ineffective defense from his attorney, John Barry Albert, whose law license was briefly suspended in 2006 for drug and alcohol abuse.

"We are profoundly grateful for the moral courage and leadership Governor Stitt has shown in granting mercy to Tremane," Castro-Alves told the BBC. "This decision honors the wishes of Mr. Wipf's family and the surviving victim, and we hope it allows them a measure of peace."

Brother's Role and Governor's Justification

Wood admitted involvement in the botched robbery but denied stabbing Wipf. His older brother, Zjaiton Wood, pleaded guilty to the murder and died in prison in 2019. Stitt emphasized that the commutation aligns with the punishment Zjaiton received, ensuring "a severe punishment that keeps a violent offender off the streets forever."

The governor also praised Wipf's family and Kleinsasser for their "Christian forgiveness and love," adding, "I pray for the family of Ronnie Wipf and for the surviving victim, Arnie."

Mixed Reactions and State Execution Trends

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond criticized the clemency decision, vowing to ensure Wood remains incarcerated. "My office will continue working to ensure that Tremane Wood remains behind bars and that the public is protected from him," Drummond told local station KSWO.

Oklahoma has executed two inmates in 2025 and four in 2024, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. Wood's case underscores ongoing debates over capital punishment, trial fairness, and the role of victim families in clemency decisions.