JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — One week ago Friday, former Missouri governor Eric Greitens resigned from office, leaving the future of a death row inmate in limbo. Twenty years ago, Marcellus Williams was sentenced to death after a jury convicted him in the 1998 murder of Felicia Gayle in her University City home.
Last August, Greitens granted Williams a stay of execution and appointed a board of retired judges to consider whether or not he should be pardoned. Now with a new governor in office, the board appointed by Greitens stopped their work, because judges are not sure if Gov. Parson wants them to continue to look at Williams' case.
Former U.S. District Judge Carol Jackson is charging the panel. She said the board reached their decision on their own and not through force or persuasion, nor were they swayed by Gov. Parson. Judge Jackson added that the panel is awaiting further word from the governor to decide on the next step to take.
Williams' son said the decision to stop work on his father's case was heartbreaking, and that he's been praying for his father's freedom. He believes his father is innocent — and so does his Williams' attorney. He has argued that Williams' DNA does not match that found on the murder weapon.
At this time, Gov. Parson wants to take the proper amount of time to review all the material related to this case before he makes a comment on this situation.
