JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Marcellus Williams is now in his final hours as Missouri prepares for his execution scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 24. Despite overwhelming support for Williams from people around the world, Gov. Mike Parson confirmed Monday that the execution will proceed.
During the final day of arguments in Jefferson City, attorneys for both Williams and Attorney General Andrew Bailey debated crucial issues, including DNA evidence and claims of racial bias in the jury pool.
Activists and community members rallied in solidarity, advocating for Williams, who has maintained his innocence for the past 24 years after being convicted for the 1998 murder of Felicia Gayle, despite a lack of physical evidence linking him to the crime.
St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell, who was not involved in the original case, has requested that the Missouri Supreme Court send the matter back to the St. Louis County Circuit Court for a full hearing.
In a statement, Bell emphasized, “Even for those who disagree on the death penalty, when there is a shadow of a doubt of any defendant’s guilt, the irreversible punishment of execution should not be an option.”
Williams’ case has garnered widespread support, including a clemency petition with over a million signatures that is set to be delivered to the governor’s office tomorrow. However, Parson reiterated that courts at all levels have upheld Williams’ conviction and stated that no legal body has found merit in his claims of innocence.
Michelle Smith with Missourians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty voiced concerns about the government’s actions.
“People who think they’re doing this for the family, please reconsider… in this moment, this family is not supportive of this,” she said.
Activists from groups like the Innocence Project are set to gather across the state, including in St. Louis and Kansas City, for an hour of solidarity before delivering the petition in Jefferson City. In just the past day, over 100,000 names were added, urging Parson to reconsider the execution.
Late Monday night, a new development emerged: Williams filed a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court seeking a stay of execution, citing racial bias during jury selection and recent constitutional concerns raised by Bell.
This request follows a similar case, Richard Glossip, where the court paused an execution due to prosecutorial errors; oral arguments for Glossip’s case are scheduled for Oct. 9.
As Williams’ execution looms, uncertainty and calls for justice continue to echo throughout Missouri.
