Marcellus Williams, a 55-year-old Missouri man, was executed for the 1998 murder of Lisha Gayle, despite the victim’s family advocating for his sentence to be commuted to life in prison.
The 1998 Crime
Williams was convicted of fatally stabbing Lisha Gayle, 42, during a burglary of her suburban St. Louis home. Prosecutors at the time argued that Williams entered the home on August 11, 1998, armed himself with a butcher knife, and stabbed Gayle 43 times after discovering her. He stole her purse and her husband’s laptop, which he later sold.
Attempts to Prove Innocence and Call for Clemency
Williams maintained his innocence throughout his time on death row, hoping to have his sentence commuted to life without parole. His clemency petition heavily emphasized that Gayle’s family supported sparing his life, stating, “The family defines closure as Marcellus being allowed to live.”
Denied Appeals and Final Moments
Despite the family’s pleas, Missouri Governor Mike Parson denied clemency on Monday, and both the Missouri Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to halt the execution. Williams was executed with no one present from the victim’s family, while his son and two attorneys watched from a separate room.
Governor’s Statement and NAACP Response
Governor Parson defended the execution, stating it brings finality to a case that “languished for decades,” while NAACP President Derrick Johnson condemned the action, calling it the lynching of “another innocent Black man.” This was the third time Williams faced execution, having avoided it twice before in 2015 and 2017.