Pardon & Parole Board Recommends Clemency For Death Row Inmate Bigler Stouffer

The Pardon and Parole board has voted 3-2 to recommend clemency for death row inmate Bigler Stouffer.

The board also recommended his sentence be commuted to life in prison without parole.

The Oklahoma City man currently third in line to be executed on the state’s death row was convicted in the 1985 murder of Putnam City school teacher Linda Reaves and sentenced to death the same year.

In a lawsuit filed in the Western District of Oklahoma, attorneys for Stouffer argue he never received an opportunity to challenge the state’s execution protocol or select an alternative method as did other death row inmates involved in the federal lawsuit Glossip v. Chandler.

As part of the pending Glossip litigation challenging the state’s execution protocol, U.S. District Judge Stephen Friot instructed the plaintiffs to select an alternative execution method.

Six inmates involved in the Glossip lawsuit did not respond, causing Friot to allow their execution to be scheduled by the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. The case against the execution protocols was allowed to proceed for the inmates who did respond to the method questionnaire.

Stouffer’s attorney argues since he was not allowed to join the lawsuit, he never received an opportunity to challenge the execution protocols as the inmates who responded to the questionnaire did.

Instead, Laird argued he was lumped in the inmates who did not respond despite never having the choice.

“He never had his day in court,” Laird said.

“It’s possible, and I’m sure he will seek a stay if his execution,” O’Connor said. “We will just have to see how the federal court handles that.”

O’Connor said Stouffer’s 36 years of appeals since his original 1985 conviction is a sign the justice system isn’t working properly.

“Honestly, 36 years of appeals. I think it’s more determinative upon the courts giving a thorough review, the court of criminal appeals, giving a thorough review of the evidence and the law that were the basis of the conviction, and then the appellate courts working through their calendars etc.,” O’Connor said.

“But it sure seems like 36 years, that’s certainly the longest I’ve ever heard of,” he said.

Laird said Stouffer maintains his innocence “100%,” arguing the state’s DNA evidence in the case doesn’t match the state’s theory of events.

His execution date is scheduled for December 9, 2021.

The state attorney general's office released the following statement:

“I am disappointed with the decision of the Pardon and Parole Board recommending clemency to Bigler Jobe Stouffer. I was encouraged by the fact that the Board saw through the misrepresentations voiced by Mr. Stouffer and his representatives regarding his alleged innocence as most, if not all, Board members stated their confidence that Mr. Stouffer was guilty of the heinous crimes against Linda Reaves and Doug Ivens. The Board’s decision, however, was improperly based on whether an inmate will suffer pain during an execution. This concern is not a concern for the Pardon and Parole Board. Instead, it is a concern of the courts. The courts, in declining to grant a stay of execution for other death row inmates, have spoken. The execution of Mr. Stouffer should proceed. The decision, however, is now in the hands of the Governor. I will continue to make the safety of the citizens of Oklahoma a top priority of this office and will continue to advocate for the victims of this horrific crime as well as all victims of all violent crimes.”