(TheLastPatriotNews.com) – Oklahoma’s Pardon and Parole Board has struck a decisive blow against leniency for violent criminals.
In a 4-1 vote, the board denied clemency for death row inmate Wendell Grissom, convicted of a brutal 2005 home invasion that left a young mother dead and another woman injured.
This decision upholds justice for the victims and sends a clear message that Oklahoma stands firm against violent crime.
Scheduled for March 20, Grissom’s execution will be carried out by lethal injection at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary.
The board’s decision prevents Governor Kevin Stitt from commuting Grissom’s sentence, ensuring that the will of the people and the justice system prevail.
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond praised the board’s decision, emphasizing the gravity of Grissom’s actions.
“Amber died at the hands of a cruel and evil man. Today, however, his fate is sealed with the denial of clemency,” Drummond stated.
He added, “In a state where we cherish the sanctity of our homes and the safety of our loved ones, justice demands nothing less than the ultimate price for those who violently tear apart the very fabric of our community.”
The case against Grissom is overwhelming. In 2005, he and an accomplice broke into a home in Blaine County, Oklahoma.
During the invasion, Grissom fatally shot 23-year-old Amber Dawn Matthews, who was holding her newborn at the time, and injured Drue Kopf.
In upholding Grissom’s conviction in 2011, the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals described the murder as “callous and pitiless.”
Meanwhile, the Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty attempted to justify the criminal’s actions.
The coalition claimed, “Grissom suffered from extensive brain damage which he tried to alleviate through drugs and alcohol. Intentional infliction of lethal violence by the state will not bring justice or peace.”
Despite attempts by Grissom’s attorneys to cite remorse and brain damage as mitigating factors, the board remained unconvinced.
Grissom himself did not make a statement to the board, seemingly resigned to his fate.
In recent communications, he even referred to his clemency hearing as a joke and expressed no fear of dying. He stated, “I’m ready to go. I’m just waiting for the day to get here.”
The victims’ families strongly support the execution. Courtney Fuston, the murdered woman’s cousin, called Grissom a “low-life coward” and stated, “Execution is the only answer.”
Kopf, who survived the attack, provided a powerful victim statement during the clemency hearing, describing the lasting physical and mental scars she endures.
Kopf expressed relief at the upcoming execution and her determination to be seen as a survivor rather than a victim.
The board’s decision upholds the sanctity of life for innocent victims and sends a clear message that Oklahoma will not tolerate such vicious crimes.
Wendell Grissom chased Amber Dawn Matthews into a child’s bedroom, shooting and killing her as she was holding one of the children, said Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who commended the board for its decision.#EnidNewshttps://t.co/K7o37S3vZEhttps://t.co/K7o37S3vZE
— Violet Hassler – #EnidNews papergirl (@violethENE) February 5, 2025
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