Gov. Mary Fallin Receives Death Threats Over Richard Glossip Execution

Online threats against the life of Governor Mary Fallin, apparently related to the Governor’s position on capital punishment, have been investigated and dismissed as “not credible.”

The posts were made earlier on Tuesday on the Governor’s Facebook page in a thread of comments related to the case of death row inmate Richard Glossip. In one post, the person said he was going to “pay someone to kill you because you are a murdering b---.” A later comment from the same person claimed “I’m going to have her assassinated eye for an eye.”

A spokesman for Gov. Fallin confirmed for News 9 that she was aware of the postings, had taken them down from the page and that the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) was also aware.

An OHP spokesman, Capt. Paul Timmons, acknowledged the agency had opened an investigation into the social media threats. But, Timmons says, they determined that the person responsible for the posts lives outside the country – in Spain – and therefore they don’t believe the posts constitute a credible threat. Nevertheless, Timmons say, OHP will be on the watch for further activity from the subject.

The Governor has been criticized in recent days for allowing the execution of Mr. Glossip to move forward. Glossip is scheduled to die September 16 for his conviction in the 1997 murder of Oklahoma City motel owner Barry Van Treese. Sister Helen Prejean, as well as, actress Susan Sarandon have advocated for a commutation of Glossip’s sentence.

8/10/2015 Related Story: Fight To Save Glossip Continues As Actress Takes Aim At Governor

Governor Fallin issued a statement on Monday, reiterating her position that, since Glossip’s conviction has been upheld by two juries and withstood several appeals, the execution will go on as planned.