Oklahoma AG Asks Court To Vacate Richard Glossip Conviction

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond is asking the Court of Criminal Appeals to vacate the conviction of Death Row inmate Richard Glossip. This comes as the attorney general releases the results of an investigation his office commissioned.

Richard Glossip has been on Death Row for nearly 25 years and nearly executed three different times. The last time, he was just minutes away from death when Gov. Mary Fallin spared his life because of a mix-up with the execution drugs.

Glossip has maintained his innocence. Prosecutors say he paid another man, Justin Sneed, to kill Barry Van Treese. The case was based largely on the testimony of Sneed, who agreed to testify against Glossip in order to avoid the death penalty for himself.

A recent investigation commissioned by a group of Republican lawmakers revealed Sneed had several times asked about recanting his testimony, most recently late last summer.

Following that investigation, early this year, Drummond appointed a special council to conduct a "thorough review" of the case. That special council was led by Rex Duncan, a former Republican state representative and two-term Osage County District Attorney.  

"Circumstances surrounding this case necessitate a thorough review," Drummond said at the time. "While I am confident in our judicial system, that does not allow me to ignore evidence. This review helps ensure that justice is served, both to the Van Treese family and the accused."

The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals will now have to rule on the attorney general's request. If they grant it, the case will go back to the Oklahoma County District Attorney's office and DA Vicki Behenna will have to decide if she will try the case again.

Richard Glossip Case Timeline: