‘I Don’t Deserve To Die For This’: Glossip Clemency Denied

Richard Glossip remains on death row after the Pardon and Parole Board denied clemency Wednesday.

Glossip was sentenced to death for his part in the murder of Barry Van Treese, whose family members spoke to the Pardon and Parole Board Wednesday.

The board voted with a 2-2 split after one board member recused himself. A majority vote is necessary for clemency to be granted.

“I’m not a murderer and I don’t deserve to die for this,” Glossip said.

Both defense attorneys and District Attorney Gentner Drummond were asking the board for clemency.

“I’m not aware of any time in our history that an attorney general has appeared before this board and argued for clemency,” said Drummond. “I’m also not aware of any time in Oklahoma history that would require it.”

Drummond conceded most of his time to the authors of two separate independent investigations that found Glossip did not receive a fair trial in his first two convictions.

“The state of Oklahoma can not stand behind a conviction given what has been discovered since January, 2023,” Rex Duncan said, a member of the independent council.

The only people speaking in favor of executing Glossip were the Van Treese family.

“On January 7th, 1997, that’s the day my entire world shattered,” said Donna Van Treese.

Glossip is scheduled to be executed May 18th, 2023.