A March For Freedom: Supporters Rally In Support Of Death Row Inmate Appeal

A man on death row for raping and murdering an OU ballerina in 1996 is set to be executed next Thursday. His supporters believe there's still time to prove he's innocent.

Anthony Sanchez’s supporters showed up at the capitol with a letter from Sanchez asking the governor to reconsider his case and grant him more time. They marched from McAlister to Oklahoma City.

“You would be willing to travel a long way for people that you love,” Jeff Hood said.

They traveled more than 100 miles to get to the Capitol. Abraham Bonowitz with Death Penalty Action was one of several people to share Sanchez's message at the Governor's office.

“We delivered over 14,000 petition signatures and a letter from Anthony Sanchez himself asking the governor for a 60-day reprieve in order to allow time for Anthony’s new lawyers to access evidence that none of us our investigators or attorneys have not had a chance to look at,” Bonowitz said.

News 9 reached out to the Governor's office, and we have not heard back. This evidence is pertaining to the murder of Juli Busken, an OU Ballerina who was raped and killed.

In a hearing, a judge granted an order for Sanchez's previous lawyers to turn over their records, but they denied the stay for execution.

“Ultimately, there are no winners with the death penalty so with every step I try to pray for and think about everybody who is affected because again we don't have to perpetuate this. We don't have to keep this going,” Hood said.

The Attorney General's office said next week is about justice.

The Attorney General’s office sent this statement:

“It is beyond any doubt that Anthony Sanchez is a rapist and a murderer. Justice for Juli Busken will be done Sept. 21.”