Republican governor spares life of death row inmate in final hours before execution

A antheral acceptable to beryllium executed Thursday was pardoned by Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, conscionable hours earlier helium was scheduled to beryllium killed.

Tremane Wood, 46, was sentenced to decease for stabbing and sidesplitting 19-year-old farmworker Ronnie Wipf connected New Year’s Day successful 2002 during a robbery successful Oklahoma City.

Wood's attorneys said during his clemency proceeding that his brother, Zjaiton, was the idiosyncratic who fatally stabbed Wipf during the robbery, though helium died successful situation successful 2019, according to a study from the Associated Press.

During his clip successful prison, Zjaiton allegedly admitted to sidesplitting respective people, including Wipf, according to the report.

This Feb. 9, 2023, photograph provided by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections shows Tremane Wood, who was sentenced to dice for the stabbing decease of a antheral during a robbery successful 2001. (Oklahoma Department of Corrections via AP)

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Stitt heeded a proposal from the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board, which voted 3-2 Nov. 5 recommending clemency for Wood. 

"After a thorough reappraisal of the facts and prayerful consideration, I person chosen to judge the Pardon and Parole Board’s proposal to commute Tremane Wood’s condemnation to beingness without parole," Stitt wrote successful a statement. 

"This enactment reflects the aforesaid punishment his member received for their execution of an guiltless young antheral and ensures a terrible punishment that keeps a convulsive offender disconnected the streets forever. In Oklahoma, we volition proceed to clasp accountable those who perpetrate convulsive crimes, delivering justice, safeguarding our communities, and respecting the regularisation of law," helium added. "I commune for the household of Ronnie Wipf and for the surviving victim, Arnie; they are models of Christian forgiveness and love."

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt granted Tremane Wood clemency connected Nov. 13, 2025. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

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The Attorney General's Office opposed the decision, noting Wood utilized aggregate contraband cellphones to administer drugs and prosecute successful pack unit portion incarcerated. 

The authorities provided the Pardon and Parole Board with a video allegedly showing a beating paid for by Wood, which helium insisted beryllium sent to him.

"After this unsafe transgression took a young man’s life, helium stayed afloat progressive successful the transgression satellite from down bars," Attorney General Gentner Drummond wrote successful a statement. "I americium disappointed by the Pardon and Parole Board's decision contiguous but admit their thoughtful deliberation. My bureau volition proceed to prosecute justness for Ronnie Wipf. We mean to marque our lawsuit to the politician connected wherefore clemency should not beryllium granted and wherefore the decease sentence, arsenic determined by a jury, should beryllium carried out."

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has lone granted clemency 1 different time. (Ting Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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The Tremane Wood Foundation noted that the assemblage was astir each White, with 1 Black juror. The Legal Defense Fund besides claimed that Wood's defence lawyer did not grip the lawsuit properly.

"Mr. Wood was failed by our transgression ineligible strategy successful a fig of ways, including done mediocre ineligible practice and by a proceedings that whitethorn person been infected by radical bias. And helium has spent his beingness successful situation arsenic a result," the enactment wrote successful a statement. "… Oklahoma’s clemency committee has made wide that Wood should not dice nor does the victim’s household question his death."

The politician has lone granted clemency 1 different clip successful his 7 years successful office.

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Only fractional a twelve prisoners person been granted clemency successful Oklahoma since 1972.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.