Missouri has carried out its third execution of the year. At 6:10 p.m., Marcellus Williams was pronounced dead at the Eastern Reception, Diagnostic, and Correctional Center in southeast Missouri’s Bonne Terre.
He died by lethal injection for the 1998 stabbing death of former St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter Felicia Gayle. Williams was sentenced to death for first-degree murder on August 27, 2001.
Missourinet served as a state witness in the execution. After the curtains opened, Williams, 55, was laying atop a gurney wearing a white top with a white sheet pulled to his upper body. He looked toward his spiritual advisor, Imam Jalahii Kacem, talking back and forth as the drugs began to take effect. Williams’ chest heaved a few times before fading off. He did not appear to struggle in his final moments.
The state Department of Corrections said Williams was given an injection of five grams of pentobarbital.
He maintained his innocence, and St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell attempted to have his murder conviction tossed out, saying DNA evidence found on the murder weapon did not come from Williams. The state argued that the knife had been handled by prosecutors more than 20 years ago and that no evidence has been found that exonerates Williams.
In August of 2017, Williams was scheduled to die by lethal injection only to have former Gov. Eric Greitens step in and grant a stay of execution. He appointed a board to examine new DNA evidence in the case. Lawyers for Williams alleged that DNA evidence found on the knife used to stab the victim was not Williams’s DNA.
But on June 29, 2023, Gov. Mike Parson signed an executive order dissolving a board of inquiry in the case and lifting the stay of execution for Williams’ death sentence.
The U.S. Supreme Court, Missouri Supreme Court, and Gov. Parson have refused to halt the scheduled execution.
“Capital punishment cases are some of the hardest issues we have to address in the Governor’s Office, but when it comes down to it, I follow the law and trust the integrity of our judicial system,” Governor Parson said. “Mr. Williams has exhausted due process and every judicial avenue, including over 15 hearings attempting to argue his innocence and overturn his conviction. No jury nor court, including at the trial, appellate, and Supreme Court levels, have ever found merit in Mr. Williams’ innocence claims. At the end of the day, his guilty verdict and sentence of capital punishment were upheld. Nothing from the real facts of this case have led me to believe in Mr. Williams’ innocence, as such, Mr. Williams’ punishment will be carried out as ordered by the Supreme Court.”
“I also want to add how deeply disturbed we’ve been about how this case has been covered. Mr. Williams’ attorneys chose to muddy the waters about DNA evidence, claims of which Courts have repeatedly rejected. Yet, some media outlets and activist groups have continued such claims without so much of a mention of the judicial proceedings or an unbiased analysis of the facts. I would just implore the media to do their due diligence and not rely on the sole claims of individuals who have a personal or monetary stake in this case. The facts are Mr. Williams has been found guilty, not by the Governor’s Office, but by a jury of his peers, and upheld by the Courts,” Governor Parson continued.
There were 94 protesters opposed to the death penalty on the grounds of the prison today.
The state had nine witnesses serving on its behalf. There were three victims representing Williams while there was no one to represent the victim’s family.
No statement was provided on behalf of Gayle.
Williams last statement read, “All praise be to Allah in every situation.”
Missouri Department of Corrections Spokesperson Karen Pojmann said that Williams’ body will be picked up by the Islamic Center of Greater St. Louis.
Williams’s final meal was served at 10:53 a.m. It included chicken wings and tater tots.
Missouri now has nine men awaiting the death penalty.
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