1 00:00:02,160 --> 00:00:05,520 Speaker 1: Hey, there are folks. It is Thursday, November thirteenth, and 2 00:00:05,880 --> 00:00:08,800 Speaker 1: he's just a little while ago. Actually, a man was 3 00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:12,760 Speaker 1: sitting in a room next to a death chamber waiting 4 00:00:12,840 --> 00:00:16,400 Speaker 1: to be taken in and executed. He had been served 5 00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:19,320 Speaker 1: his last meal and he was minutes away from going 6 00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:22,440 Speaker 1: into that death chamber when he got word that his 7 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:26,960 Speaker 1: life was being spared by the governor of Oklahoma. And 8 00:00:27,040 --> 00:00:30,040 Speaker 1: with that, welcome to this episode of Amy and TJ. Robes. 9 00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:37,040 Speaker 1: We can't believe almost that this happened. These are so rare, 10 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:39,880 Speaker 1: and this is a case for whatever reason, we got 11 00:00:40,080 --> 00:00:43,160 Speaker 1: very close to and interested in. Lo and behold today 12 00:00:43,159 --> 00:00:44,239 Speaker 1: a man's life was. 13 00:00:44,240 --> 00:00:48,720 Speaker 2: Spared, and within minutes it was as dramatic as it gets. 14 00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:53,479 Speaker 2: And yes, we spoke with Tremaine Wood's family just two 15 00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:58,440 Speaker 2: days ago. They could barely speak about his potential impending 16 00:00:58,480 --> 00:01:01,920 Speaker 2: death without sobbing. Under Standably, we were on the edge 17 00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:04,560 Speaker 2: of our seats waiting to see if the Governor of 18 00:01:04,560 --> 00:01:08,880 Speaker 2: Oklahoma was going to go ahead and grant the clemency 19 00:01:09,080 --> 00:01:13,800 Speaker 2: that a Pardon and Parole board had recommended the week before. 20 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:18,040 Speaker 2: And tick talk, tick talk, we were all the way 21 00:01:18,120 --> 00:01:22,399 Speaker 2: up to ten at the East coast time, ten fifty seven, 22 00:01:23,000 --> 00:01:26,039 Speaker 2: ten fifty eight. He was scheduled to die by lethal 23 00:01:26,080 --> 00:01:30,559 Speaker 2: injection at eleven am Eastern time ten am local time, 24 00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:35,720 Speaker 2: and just before it hit eleven here we got word. 25 00:01:35,720 --> 00:01:38,080 Speaker 1: And we talked about this, Robes. I was saying to you, 26 00:01:38,160 --> 00:01:40,080 Speaker 1: I mean, these are so rare that it does happen 27 00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:42,600 Speaker 1: that the governor grant's clemency, And I said, you know 28 00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:44,760 Speaker 1: the ones we've heard about oftentimes, it's not like we 29 00:01:44,840 --> 00:01:47,760 Speaker 1: seen the movies, like they're somebody strapped to the chair 30 00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:51,200 Speaker 1: and the phone rings on the wall. That's not usually 31 00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:53,520 Speaker 1: how it goes down, but it can't. It went down 32 00:01:53,640 --> 00:01:57,040 Speaker 1: like that to a great degree today. Now Tremaine Wood 33 00:01:57,600 --> 00:01:59,840 Speaker 1: was sitting waiting to be executed. They had moved in 34 00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:03,480 Speaker 1: to this holding cell essentially right next door to the 35 00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:05,520 Speaker 1: death chamber, and that's where he had been. It was 36 00:02:05,560 --> 00:02:07,680 Speaker 1: one of your first questions, rogues, when it had gotten 37 00:02:08,240 --> 00:02:10,960 Speaker 1: so close to the hour, the execution hour, You like, 38 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:16,080 Speaker 1: good God, was he strapped to that gurney? Was he 39 00:02:16,280 --> 00:02:19,120 Speaker 1: ready to be Was he in there? And then the 40 00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:22,120 Speaker 1: call came that's not the case. I can't imagine how 41 00:02:22,440 --> 00:02:24,600 Speaker 1: dramatic and what that would have felt like, but still 42 00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:27,160 Speaker 1: what he went through today, can you imagine what that 43 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:27,880 Speaker 1: felt like? 44 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:30,320 Speaker 2: It had to be pretty close to that, short of 45 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:33,919 Speaker 2: being strapped to the gurney. He was in what they 46 00:02:33,960 --> 00:02:36,480 Speaker 2: called death watch, and he'd been in death watch for 47 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:40,120 Speaker 2: a couple of days. Can you imagine eating the meal 48 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:44,400 Speaker 2: that you requested as your final meal, your last meal, 49 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:47,560 Speaker 2: knowing this most likely, I mean, you would have to 50 00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:50,000 Speaker 2: prepare yourself mentally. And when we spoke to his mother 51 00:02:50,639 --> 00:02:53,880 Speaker 2: and his nieces, they said he told them, whether they 52 00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:56,400 Speaker 2: believed him or not, that he was ready to die. 53 00:02:57,080 --> 00:03:01,000 Speaker 2: If that's what was meant to be, all of the 54 00:03:01,080 --> 00:03:04,480 Speaker 2: mental olympics that must have been going on in his head. 55 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:07,360 Speaker 2: And yes, I was imagining being his mother, I was 56 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:10,000 Speaker 2: imagining being his nieces or anyone who loved him. And 57 00:03:10,040 --> 00:03:13,840 Speaker 2: what this time we were spending our morning working and 58 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:16,840 Speaker 2: just I was trying to think about what they must 59 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:19,320 Speaker 2: be going through so to have the outcome that they 60 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:23,880 Speaker 2: were obviously hoping for, wishing for, praying for, but wanting 61 00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:28,160 Speaker 2: not to be waiting for. And yet that moment came 62 00:03:28,480 --> 00:03:33,320 Speaker 2: and you said it to me, The governor just granted clements. 63 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:37,720 Speaker 1: I could. I don't know, it's a case maybe that 64 00:03:37,920 --> 00:03:41,640 Speaker 1: screams for this. I we'll share the governor's statement here 65 00:03:41,640 --> 00:03:43,560 Speaker 1: in a moment, but it seems to be a case 66 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:48,360 Speaker 1: that screamed for mercy, taking a taking a moment, or 67 00:03:48,440 --> 00:03:53,240 Speaker 1: even being humane if you will, to someone who is 68 00:03:53,320 --> 00:03:54,720 Speaker 1: now not going to get out of jail for the 69 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:56,160 Speaker 1: rest of his life, who was admitted he was a 70 00:03:56,160 --> 00:03:59,320 Speaker 1: part of this criming which somebody died. But again the 71 00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:02,320 Speaker 1: argument that he wasn't necessarily the killer, all that stuff. 72 00:04:02,520 --> 00:04:03,960 Speaker 1: The governor and I said it to you when I 73 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:06,840 Speaker 1: read the statement, I said, he struck the right. He 74 00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:09,000 Speaker 1: sounds like he's got a good head on his shoulder. 75 00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:10,560 Speaker 1: I know he's a governor. I don't mean it that way. 76 00:04:10,640 --> 00:04:14,400 Speaker 1: What I'm saying is it sounded just level headed and 77 00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:17,960 Speaker 1: from the head and heart was combined. And when I 78 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:20,599 Speaker 1: see a politician do that, I'll give them credit. 79 00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:24,240 Speaker 2: It was amazing. And look, he was and is a 80 00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:27,480 Speaker 2: Republican governor. And that should be pointed out because by 81 00:04:27,520 --> 00:04:31,040 Speaker 2: and large, Republican governors tend to be pro death penalty, 82 00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:34,279 Speaker 2: and so to have a Republican governor step in and 83 00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:37,920 Speaker 2: grant clemency, it's rare enough for any governor to do so. 84 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:40,279 Speaker 2: But certainly for our Republican governor to do so. 85 00:04:40,120 --> 00:04:43,640 Speaker 1: What is this sixteen? There have been sixteen executions under 86 00:04:43,680 --> 00:04:46,920 Speaker 1: his watch, correct there in his term, but I always 87 00:04:46,960 --> 00:04:49,960 Speaker 1: missed the number on the parole board versus he doesn't 88 00:04:49,960 --> 00:04:51,320 Speaker 1: always go with what the para. 89 00:04:51,560 --> 00:04:56,760 Speaker 2: So Tremaine included over his tenure of seven years as governor, 90 00:04:57,480 --> 00:05:01,640 Speaker 2: the Pardons and Parole Board has recommended that five death 91 00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:07,480 Speaker 2: sentences be commuted to life in prison without the possibility 92 00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:12,360 Speaker 2: of parole. Before Tremaine, he had only agreed or granted 93 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:15,240 Speaker 2: that clemency once. So Tremaine makes it twice. So two 94 00:05:15,440 --> 00:05:19,960 Speaker 2: out of the five times the Parole Board recommended clemency, 95 00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:23,240 Speaker 2: he has now granted it. Now, it's rare for a 96 00:05:23,480 --> 00:05:28,039 Speaker 2: Pardon's and Parole board to recommend clemency period. But obviously, 97 00:05:28,160 --> 00:05:31,880 Speaker 2: as we look at so many states when the death penalty, 98 00:05:31,960 --> 00:05:34,680 Speaker 2: since the death penalty has been reinstated, we have had 99 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:40,720 Speaker 2: dozens of inmates on death row actually exonerated. So look, 100 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:45,240 Speaker 2: I do appreciate, we appreciate when governors and leaders take 101 00:05:45,279 --> 00:05:49,320 Speaker 2: their very important position seriously in moments of life or death, 102 00:05:49,320 --> 00:05:51,640 Speaker 2: and it seems that this was the case with Governor 103 00:05:51,680 --> 00:05:56,320 Speaker 2: stt Governor Kevin Stitt, and we mentioned the extenuating circumstances 104 00:05:56,320 --> 00:05:58,080 Speaker 2: in this case. We have now this is our third 105 00:05:58,080 --> 00:06:02,040 Speaker 2: podcast on this in pen execution, and there were a 106 00:06:02,120 --> 00:06:08,279 Speaker 2: lot of reasons why the governor made the decision he made, 107 00:06:08,320 --> 00:06:12,120 Speaker 2: and certainly a lot of folks were absolutely fighting for 108 00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:13,320 Speaker 2: the life of Tremaine Wood. 109 00:06:14,120 --> 00:06:16,839 Speaker 1: Look and part of what the argument that the governor 110 00:06:16,880 --> 00:06:20,320 Speaker 1: may will share his full statement, but Tremaine Wood and 111 00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:23,880 Speaker 1: his brother were part of a botched robbery in which 112 00:06:23,880 --> 00:06:26,400 Speaker 1: a nineteen year old young man was killed. This was 113 00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:29,839 Speaker 1: on New Year's Day two thousand and two. His brother 114 00:06:30,360 --> 00:06:34,920 Speaker 1: was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Tremayne was 115 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:39,120 Speaker 1: sentenced to death two separate trials. Now, the argument here 116 00:06:39,200 --> 00:06:43,040 Speaker 1: is twofold right for Tremain Wood. One of them is 117 00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:48,320 Speaker 1: everybody agrees he got inadequate counsel. His council put in 118 00:06:48,480 --> 00:06:53,840 Speaker 1: an embarrassing amount of hours logged, and there were substance 119 00:06:53,880 --> 00:06:59,160 Speaker 1: abuse involved. Everybody agrees he got a very very bad lawyer. 120 00:06:59,240 --> 00:07:01,960 Speaker 1: The other part of the story is that Tremaine would 121 00:07:02,360 --> 00:07:06,200 Speaker 1: his brother as well said it was not Tremaine but 122 00:07:06,600 --> 00:07:13,200 Speaker 1: the brother who actually stabbed the gentleman, ending up killing him. Now, 123 00:07:13,240 --> 00:07:17,280 Speaker 1: Tremaine's brother has since died in prison by suicide, so 124 00:07:17,680 --> 00:07:19,800 Speaker 1: he's not speaking about it anymore. But he spoke before 125 00:07:20,040 --> 00:07:22,320 Speaker 1: he died and said it was him and not his brother. 126 00:07:22,400 --> 00:07:25,239 Speaker 1: So the argument there, I mean, why is that fair 127 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:30,720 Speaker 1: that two guys same crime, The guy who says he 128 00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:35,040 Speaker 1: killed the man gets life in prison, the guy who 129 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:39,280 Speaker 1: didn't actually do the killing gets death. Folks didn't think 130 00:07:39,320 --> 00:07:40,480 Speaker 1: that made sense, Yes. 131 00:07:40,400 --> 00:07:44,120 Speaker 2: And the governor agreed, And the big hang up was, 132 00:07:44,920 --> 00:07:48,360 Speaker 2: actually it was the technicality in the juror instructions that 133 00:07:48,640 --> 00:07:52,480 Speaker 2: ended up having or swaying the parole board to vote 134 00:07:52,520 --> 00:07:57,360 Speaker 2: three to two to push for clemency versus the death penalty. 135 00:07:57,760 --> 00:08:00,320 Speaker 2: And you know, the governor said he was going to 136 00:08:00,360 --> 00:08:02,920 Speaker 2: take his time, as he does with all of these 137 00:08:02,960 --> 00:08:06,320 Speaker 2: death penalty cases. He spoke to the Attorney General, who 138 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:09,440 Speaker 2: was adamant he wanted to see Tremaine Wood die by 139 00:08:09,520 --> 00:08:11,840 Speaker 2: lethal injection, and he stands by that. He says he 140 00:08:11,920 --> 00:08:15,840 Speaker 2: was disappointed in the governor's decision to grant clemency. He 141 00:08:15,960 --> 00:08:19,880 Speaker 2: spoke to the victim's family and this was a big deal, 142 00:08:19,960 --> 00:08:24,000 Speaker 2: and we know that publicly they have said that they 143 00:08:24,040 --> 00:08:27,640 Speaker 2: did not want Tremaine Wood to die by lethal injection. 144 00:08:27,680 --> 00:08:30,760 Speaker 2: They were against his execution, and so he spoke to 145 00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:33,160 Speaker 2: that family as well, and that had to have been 146 00:08:33,559 --> 00:08:36,760 Speaker 2: a powerful conversation. And then he spoke to Tremaine Wood's 147 00:08:36,920 --> 00:08:39,960 Speaker 2: attorneys as well, who reiterated all of those points. We 148 00:08:40,080 --> 00:08:45,360 Speaker 2: just made that he had clear and adequate, inept representation, 149 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:49,280 Speaker 2: and there were absolutely questions about how his case was 150 00:08:49,320 --> 00:08:52,200 Speaker 2: handled in terms of what the jury heard, what they 151 00:08:52,200 --> 00:08:55,440 Speaker 2: should consider when it came to issuing the death penalty 152 00:08:55,520 --> 00:08:55,760 Speaker 2: or not. 153 00:08:55,880 --> 00:08:57,720 Speaker 1: Do you have the governor's statement in front of you. 154 00:08:58,200 --> 00:09:01,320 Speaker 1: I do, Governess did again. I've give him credit. This 155 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:04,160 Speaker 1: came out and all those things, but it sounds like 156 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:06,400 Speaker 1: he considered all of the things you would hope a 157 00:09:06,520 --> 00:09:07,280 Speaker 1: governor will consider. 158 00:09:07,480 --> 00:09:10,360 Speaker 2: Yes, So this is what the governor said just moments 159 00:09:10,600 --> 00:09:14,520 Speaker 2: past eleven a m. Eastern time. Here, after a thorough 160 00:09:14,640 --> 00:09:19,080 Speaker 2: review of the facts and prayerful consideration, I have chosen 161 00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:23,040 Speaker 2: to accept the Pardon and Parole Board's recommendation to commute 162 00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:27,280 Speaker 2: Tremaine Wood sentence to life without parole. This action reflects 163 00:09:27,320 --> 00:09:30,600 Speaker 2: the same punishment his brother received for their murder of 164 00:09:30,640 --> 00:09:34,040 Speaker 2: an innocent young man and ensures a severe punishment that 165 00:09:34,120 --> 00:09:38,000 Speaker 2: keeps a violent offender off the streets forever. In Oklahoma, 166 00:09:38,120 --> 00:09:40,959 Speaker 2: we continue to hold accountable those who commit violent crimes, 167 00:09:41,200 --> 00:09:46,080 Speaker 2: delivering justice, safeguarding our communities, and respecting the rule of law. 168 00:09:46,240 --> 00:09:49,160 Speaker 2: I pray for the family of Ronnie Wiffe and for 169 00:09:49,240 --> 00:09:53,839 Speaker 2: the surviving victim, Arnie. They are models of Christian forgiveness 170 00:09:54,360 --> 00:09:57,040 Speaker 2: and love. I love how he ended that, because that 171 00:09:57,440 --> 00:10:01,520 Speaker 2: basically reflected the victim's families willingness to say we don't 172 00:10:01,600 --> 00:10:03,120 Speaker 2: want Tremaine Wood to die. 173 00:10:03,840 --> 00:10:07,960 Speaker 1: Every governor listening, if the family of the victim says, Governor, 174 00:10:08,040 --> 00:10:12,520 Speaker 1: please don't kill this person, you gotta listen. I know 175 00:10:12,600 --> 00:10:14,040 Speaker 1: a lot of governors you hear all the time. The 176 00:10:14,320 --> 00:10:17,360 Speaker 1: people will have to do what the people want, and 177 00:10:17,400 --> 00:10:19,400 Speaker 1: the people are the ones who say this person should die. 178 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:22,480 Speaker 1: Just that is the one voice. And it sounded like 179 00:10:22,520 --> 00:10:25,000 Speaker 1: he listened to him and I I don't know, And 180 00:10:25,040 --> 00:10:28,520 Speaker 1: there was a Most people will in a moment like 181 00:10:28,559 --> 00:10:31,120 Speaker 1: this say how could you defend the murderer? How could 182 00:10:31,160 --> 00:10:34,200 Speaker 1: you think about the victim's family? And they're not getting 183 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:37,760 Speaker 1: justice or closure. They're the ones who didn't want it 184 00:10:37,800 --> 00:10:42,920 Speaker 1: to happen. They didn't so this should be and it's 185 00:10:42,960 --> 00:10:46,440 Speaker 1: a weird thing to celebrate. And we talked about this 186 00:10:46,559 --> 00:10:48,959 Speaker 1: robes because we were and we were emotional in getting 187 00:10:48,960 --> 00:10:52,400 Speaker 1: the news. It seemed like someone would take it as 188 00:10:52,440 --> 00:10:57,120 Speaker 1: how can you celebrate that this monster, this killer, this 189 00:10:57,280 --> 00:11:01,440 Speaker 1: murderer is getting to live. That's not it if you 190 00:11:01,600 --> 00:11:04,559 Speaker 1: just think of it, that a human beings life was 191 00:11:04,600 --> 00:11:09,880 Speaker 1: spared today for whatever reason, that's got to be worth something. 192 00:11:10,040 --> 00:11:12,720 Speaker 1: And I think we felt that more than we expected 193 00:11:12,760 --> 00:11:13,520 Speaker 1: to feel that today. 194 00:11:13,800 --> 00:11:17,000 Speaker 2: And no one is saying that Tremaine Wood should be freed, 195 00:11:17,600 --> 00:11:21,480 Speaker 2: that he should be let go, that he deserves freedom. 196 00:11:21,880 --> 00:11:25,480 Speaker 2: It's not that at all. He is going to be 197 00:11:25,480 --> 00:11:28,800 Speaker 2: behind bars for the remainder of his life. But the 198 00:11:28,880 --> 00:11:31,280 Speaker 2: question is whether or not his life can have value, 199 00:11:31,679 --> 00:11:33,880 Speaker 2: whether or not his life can have meaning. And if 200 00:11:33,920 --> 00:11:38,000 Speaker 2: you listen to our podcast couple back, where we spoke 201 00:11:38,040 --> 00:11:41,560 Speaker 2: to his mother, we spoke to his young nieces, we 202 00:11:41,600 --> 00:11:43,720 Speaker 2: would urge you to do so and decide for yourself 203 00:11:43,760 --> 00:11:44,720 Speaker 2: after hearing from them. 204 00:11:44,960 --> 00:11:49,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, value, Yeah, there's value there. There's a lot going 205 00:11:49,559 --> 00:11:53,920 Speaker 1: on and the family and challenges and he has been 206 00:11:55,160 --> 00:11:58,520 Speaker 1: some steady presence in their lives. And you know what, 207 00:11:58,840 --> 00:12:03,360 Speaker 1: you and I was wowed by it that the grandma 208 00:12:03,480 --> 00:12:07,400 Speaker 1: was saying she was taking the kids to see him 209 00:12:07,559 --> 00:12:10,400 Speaker 1: in prison when they were a month old, when they 210 00:12:10,400 --> 00:12:13,800 Speaker 1: were babies, because she thought it was important for them 211 00:12:14,080 --> 00:12:19,240 Speaker 1: and for him. She has fostered this relationship, this family dynamic. 212 00:12:20,120 --> 00:12:22,120 Speaker 1: I thought that was a heroic of her. 213 00:12:22,720 --> 00:12:25,120 Speaker 2: I do too, And one of the many things that 214 00:12:25,559 --> 00:12:28,880 Speaker 2: got me, that really got me. Look, we all in 215 00:12:28,920 --> 00:12:31,040 Speaker 2: this country want to break the cycle of violence, do 216 00:12:31,080 --> 00:12:35,160 Speaker 2: we not? And when his mother said he told her 217 00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:37,320 Speaker 2: one of the last times she saw him, and she 218 00:12:37,360 --> 00:12:39,040 Speaker 2: didn't know if it was going to be the last 219 00:12:39,080 --> 00:12:41,679 Speaker 2: time she saw him or was able to talk to him, 220 00:12:41,679 --> 00:12:44,920 Speaker 2: he said, mom, I broke the cycle of violence. He 221 00:12:44,960 --> 00:12:48,480 Speaker 2: has two sons who are now grown, he's got nieces, 222 00:12:48,559 --> 00:12:52,880 Speaker 2: he's got nephews, there are great grandchildren now, and there 223 00:12:52,920 --> 00:12:56,120 Speaker 2: are no troubles with the law. And he said, I 224 00:12:56,160 --> 00:12:59,320 Speaker 2: am the cautionary tale. And through his example of saying, 225 00:12:59,400 --> 00:13:03,560 Speaker 2: don't be me, stay in school, be kind, don't resort 226 00:13:03,600 --> 00:13:08,680 Speaker 2: to violence, that message, at least to his inner circle, resonated. 227 00:13:08,920 --> 00:13:12,520 Speaker 2: He was the example of what not to do. And 228 00:13:12,559 --> 00:13:16,560 Speaker 2: he proudly wore that and encouraged And I mean, if 229 00:13:16,600 --> 00:13:19,680 Speaker 2: you listen to his nieces. They worship him. And it's 230 00:13:19,720 --> 00:13:24,320 Speaker 2: weird to think that young kids who seemingly have bright 231 00:13:24,400 --> 00:13:28,920 Speaker 2: futures are looking up to their uncle or their relative 232 00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:33,640 Speaker 2: who is a convicted murderer and who was on death row. 233 00:13:33,960 --> 00:13:36,960 Speaker 2: That doesn't seem like a likely hero or a mentor. 234 00:13:37,400 --> 00:13:39,520 Speaker 2: And yet if you listen to these young folks, he 235 00:13:39,679 --> 00:13:43,640 Speaker 2: has been and that is pretty awesome by him being 236 00:13:43,640 --> 00:13:45,360 Speaker 2: in prison. And he was kind of like, look where 237 00:13:45,400 --> 00:13:48,720 Speaker 2: I am in my situation. It broke the cycle of 238 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:50,800 Speaker 2: violence in our family, and for that I'm grateful. 239 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:52,840 Speaker 1: It was the last thing he said to the parole 240 00:13:52,840 --> 00:13:57,320 Speaker 1: board when he made his presentation. He asked them to 241 00:13:57,480 --> 00:14:01,200 Speaker 1: see him as someone whose life has value. It was 242 00:14:01,240 --> 00:14:02,800 Speaker 1: the last thing he said to them. And then we 243 00:14:02,840 --> 00:14:05,600 Speaker 1: got a chance to talk to the nieces. I'm floored 244 00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:08,920 Speaker 1: at how it happened. We used to talk about nineteen 245 00:14:09,000 --> 00:14:12,200 Speaker 1: twenty three year old young women who this guy in 246 00:14:12,240 --> 00:14:15,599 Speaker 1: prison is, as you just said, is everything to them. 247 00:14:15,760 --> 00:14:18,640 Speaker 1: But folks, stay here, we're going to tell you just 248 00:14:18,840 --> 00:14:24,160 Speaker 1: how rare, rare this is for a governor to give 249 00:14:24,240 --> 00:14:27,440 Speaker 1: Clemensing will also tell you why, yes, folks, a life 250 00:14:27,640 --> 00:14:32,000 Speaker 1: was spared today on death row. But tonight there is 251 00:14:32,160 --> 00:14:36,640 Speaker 1: not a lot of hope that another execution in another 252 00:14:36,800 --> 00:14:48,440 Speaker 1: state is going to get stopped. All right, folks, let 253 00:14:48,480 --> 00:14:52,280 Speaker 1: me in DJ here continuing now with what was certainly 254 00:14:52,440 --> 00:14:57,000 Speaker 1: to a certain degree surprising, rare, but great news at 255 00:14:57,080 --> 00:14:59,800 Speaker 1: least for the family of Tremaine. Would death row in 256 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:04,680 Speaker 1: mate convicted murder scheduled to die at eleven am Eastern 257 00:15:04,720 --> 00:15:09,440 Speaker 1: time today in Oklahoma, but minutes before he was to 258 00:15:09,480 --> 00:15:12,040 Speaker 1: be taken into the death chamber, his life was spared 259 00:15:12,080 --> 00:15:14,320 Speaker 1: by the governor the rogues. We talked to his mom 260 00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:16,840 Speaker 1: and his nieces, like you said a couple of days ago. 261 00:15:17,360 --> 00:15:21,680 Speaker 1: One of the things that struck me most one they 262 00:15:21,680 --> 00:15:24,800 Speaker 1: had only contact visits. As they say, right, they get 263 00:15:24,800 --> 00:15:28,040 Speaker 1: to visit him a little more often, but all of 264 00:15:28,080 --> 00:15:31,640 Speaker 1: those aren't contact. You can actually give up heads through glass. 265 00:15:31,680 --> 00:15:33,480 Speaker 1: And so the last time they got to see him 266 00:15:33,560 --> 00:15:36,560 Speaker 1: this week was through glass, they said. The last time 267 00:15:36,560 --> 00:15:38,760 Speaker 1: they had a contact visit I think was this summer, 268 00:15:38,800 --> 00:15:43,160 Speaker 1: early summer. They got to hug him, but they hadn't 269 00:15:43,560 --> 00:15:50,280 Speaker 1: had the death date yet, So they hugged him in June, 270 00:15:50,320 --> 00:15:54,040 Speaker 1: not realizing that might be the last hug, and that 271 00:15:54,240 --> 00:15:56,240 Speaker 1: jumped out at me. We were talking to them the 272 00:15:56,280 --> 00:15:56,640 Speaker 1: other day. 273 00:15:56,760 --> 00:16:01,480 Speaker 2: Statistically speaking, they look so when we spoke with Linda 274 00:16:01,680 --> 00:16:05,880 Speaker 2: Would she didn't seem hopeful. She did not seem hopeful. 275 00:16:06,320 --> 00:16:09,560 Speaker 2: She had, I think, prepared herself as much as you 276 00:16:09,680 --> 00:16:12,520 Speaker 2: can as a mother that her second son was now 277 00:16:12,560 --> 00:16:16,360 Speaker 2: going to die in prison, and you could see that 278 00:16:16,800 --> 00:16:20,240 Speaker 2: she didn't even want to show any hope. It was 279 00:16:20,280 --> 00:16:22,560 Speaker 2: almost like she didn't want to jinx it. I felt 280 00:16:22,600 --> 00:16:25,240 Speaker 2: that from her. You could see it in her face 281 00:16:25,840 --> 00:16:28,000 Speaker 2: as she spoke about her son and what was likely 282 00:16:28,040 --> 00:16:31,680 Speaker 2: to happen. She was speaking as a mother who was 283 00:16:31,760 --> 00:16:34,760 Speaker 2: preparing for her son to die. I did not see 284 00:16:34,800 --> 00:16:37,400 Speaker 2: a lot of hope. I didn't see a lot of 285 00:16:37,400 --> 00:16:39,920 Speaker 2: hope in the girls either, I really didn't. They were 286 00:16:40,040 --> 00:16:44,480 Speaker 2: all preparing themselves for worst case scenario. Because statistically speaking, 287 00:16:44,520 --> 00:16:46,840 Speaker 2: you look at the history of what governors have done 288 00:16:46,840 --> 00:16:49,320 Speaker 2: in these moments and in these cases, even when clemency 289 00:16:49,320 --> 00:16:52,400 Speaker 2: has been recommended, and that's rare in and of itself. 290 00:16:54,040 --> 00:16:57,280 Speaker 2: This today was nothing short of a miracle. Honestly, I 291 00:16:57,400 --> 00:16:59,960 Speaker 2: was thinking as I was looking, like I said, five 292 00:17:00,080 --> 00:17:02,480 Speaker 2: minutes we did, I was like ten minutes, nine minutes, 293 00:17:02,680 --> 00:17:06,359 Speaker 2: three minutes, and I was thinking, God, I hope, I 294 00:17:06,480 --> 00:17:10,080 Speaker 2: hope that his family got word before all of us did. 295 00:17:10,280 --> 00:17:13,080 Speaker 2: And it doesn't seem as though they did, I think, 296 00:17:13,320 --> 00:17:17,720 Speaker 2: because every single news article said the last minute, the 297 00:17:17,880 --> 00:17:21,280 Speaker 2: minute before all of like the clock was ticking and 298 00:17:21,359 --> 00:17:24,000 Speaker 2: everybody was looking at it, and we didn't know until 299 00:17:24,280 --> 00:17:27,680 Speaker 2: I don't think we saw or heard word until ten 300 00:17:27,880 --> 00:17:28,560 Speaker 2: fifty nine. 301 00:17:28,720 --> 00:17:32,000 Speaker 1: Oh. We were kept refreshing, we were following every local 302 00:17:32,040 --> 00:17:36,200 Speaker 1: Oklahoma news station, every local Oklahoma reporter. 303 00:17:36,359 --> 00:17:39,320 Speaker 2: You had the governor's we signed on their Twitter. Everything 304 00:17:39,720 --> 00:17:40,120 Speaker 2: up to the. 305 00:17:40,160 --> 00:17:42,600 Speaker 1: Last second, there was absolutely nothing. And this came. We 306 00:17:42,600 --> 00:17:44,800 Speaker 1: talked about rot. How rare this is. There have been 307 00:17:44,840 --> 00:17:47,399 Speaker 1: forty one executionecutions in the country this year. That's the 308 00:17:47,440 --> 00:17:49,880 Speaker 1: most sens what twenty fourteen, twenty fifteen, Yes, and we've 309 00:17:49,920 --> 00:17:52,280 Speaker 1: been talking about so and when there's another five I 310 00:17:52,280 --> 00:17:54,119 Speaker 1: think scheduled for the rest of this year, one of 311 00:17:54,160 --> 00:17:56,639 Speaker 1: them being tonight, another one tomorrow night. We'll speak on 312 00:17:56,680 --> 00:18:00,719 Speaker 1: that in the second. But of those forty one executions robes, 313 00:18:00,720 --> 00:18:04,560 Speaker 1: there were more scheduled. There were sixty two actual execution 314 00:18:04,800 --> 00:18:08,400 Speaker 1: dates this year in the country. Now, some of them 315 00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:12,560 Speaker 1: actually got rescheduled, some of them ended up a guy, 316 00:18:12,640 --> 00:18:16,400 Speaker 1: one guy actually died, and then some of them are 317 00:18:16,480 --> 00:18:18,399 Speaker 1: still to come. So that's why the number is different. 318 00:18:18,440 --> 00:18:20,440 Speaker 1: Sixty two, we've only had forty one executions. 319 00:18:21,119 --> 00:18:23,400 Speaker 2: But you say only yeap, that's a good point. 320 00:18:23,480 --> 00:18:29,280 Speaker 1: View, that's a very good point. But five, only five 321 00:18:30,119 --> 00:18:33,439 Speaker 1: of the sixty two scheduled executions this year did a 322 00:18:33,480 --> 00:18:37,480 Speaker 1: court step in and stop them in Only five in 323 00:18:37,880 --> 00:18:41,919 Speaker 1: zero until today did a governor step in and stop it. 324 00:18:42,359 --> 00:18:46,160 Speaker 2: Wow. So this is just it's unheard of. It's exceptionally rare. 325 00:18:46,240 --> 00:18:48,439 Speaker 1: It is very very rare, very very very rare. So 326 00:18:49,400 --> 00:18:51,480 Speaker 1: he had a good case, he had a good cause, 327 00:18:51,520 --> 00:18:53,880 Speaker 1: And I think this is just one of those where 328 00:18:53,920 --> 00:18:58,440 Speaker 1: there's a question. This isn't a matter of guilt or innocence. 329 00:18:58,480 --> 00:19:02,160 Speaker 1: This is right and wrong and fair and unfair and 330 00:19:02,480 --> 00:19:06,040 Speaker 1: just and unjust, and you have to be just to 331 00:19:06,080 --> 00:19:09,240 Speaker 1: all your citizens, including the ones that can make crimes. Yeah. 332 00:19:09,359 --> 00:19:12,040 Speaker 2: The only other time that what we've been covering in 333 00:19:12,119 --> 00:19:15,639 Speaker 2: terms of execution is Robert Robertson, that is a question 334 00:19:15,760 --> 00:19:18,800 Speaker 2: of guilt or innocence. That was not the case with this. 335 00:19:18,960 --> 00:19:21,320 Speaker 2: He is not denying being a part of the robbery 336 00:19:21,680 --> 00:19:24,480 Speaker 2: and being in the room when the murder happened. And 337 00:19:24,680 --> 00:19:28,040 Speaker 2: in the state of Oklahoma, it's it's much like the 338 00:19:28,080 --> 00:19:30,800 Speaker 2: same rule that I'm very familiar with as having been 339 00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:32,920 Speaker 2: a crime reporter in South Carolina, which is the hand 340 00:19:32,920 --> 00:19:34,360 Speaker 2: of one is the hand of all. So if you're 341 00:19:34,400 --> 00:19:36,800 Speaker 2: there when a murder happens, if you're taking part in 342 00:19:36,840 --> 00:19:39,960 Speaker 2: a crime where the outcome is murder, you were just 343 00:19:40,000 --> 00:19:42,280 Speaker 2: as culpable as the person who pulled the trigger or 344 00:19:42,280 --> 00:19:44,000 Speaker 2: the person who wielded the knife. 345 00:19:44,040 --> 00:19:45,480 Speaker 1: And some people will tell you there's a lot of 346 00:19:45,760 --> 00:19:47,720 Speaker 1: sense in that law, and a lot of people tell 347 00:19:47,720 --> 00:19:50,320 Speaker 1: you there's some nonsense in some cases in that law. 348 00:19:50,359 --> 00:19:53,440 Speaker 1: But yes, to your point, so he's there just as guilty. 349 00:19:53,440 --> 00:19:56,119 Speaker 1: But why is it that the other guy there's got it? 350 00:19:56,160 --> 00:20:01,240 Speaker 1: Why aren't they getting the same damn sentence? Is that's 351 00:20:01,240 --> 00:20:02,760 Speaker 1: a question of justice. 352 00:20:02,840 --> 00:20:04,920 Speaker 2: It is a question of justice. Can you imagine? Though, 353 00:20:04,960 --> 00:20:08,080 Speaker 2: Like I had said this before the break, we got 354 00:20:08,119 --> 00:20:10,919 Speaker 2: word of what Tremaine Wood's last meal was, when we 355 00:20:11,080 --> 00:20:13,520 Speaker 2: didn't know if he was going to be executed or not, 356 00:20:14,160 --> 00:20:16,679 Speaker 2: and just hearing and I don't know why this is 357 00:20:16,720 --> 00:20:19,560 Speaker 2: fascinating to so many of us. We always have these conversations, 358 00:20:19,920 --> 00:20:23,200 Speaker 2: but to think about actually consuming what you think might 359 00:20:23,200 --> 00:20:26,560 Speaker 2: be your last meal, and we have what his was, 360 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:30,399 Speaker 2: and to know like, wow, he's I wonder if he's 361 00:20:30,440 --> 00:20:33,000 Speaker 2: eaten again since and how different those two meals have been, 362 00:20:33,359 --> 00:20:35,320 Speaker 2: how different those two meals are. And I wonder what 363 00:20:35,359 --> 00:20:39,040 Speaker 2: it's like the reception. You know, he has been isolated 364 00:20:39,240 --> 00:20:41,120 Speaker 2: for quite some time now, as they often do when 365 00:20:41,240 --> 00:20:45,679 Speaker 2: folks are about to be executed. I wonder because his 366 00:20:45,800 --> 00:20:49,000 Speaker 2: family told us he was put into a cell right 367 00:20:49,160 --> 00:20:52,800 Speaker 2: next to where they execute the prisoners. You're on death watch. 368 00:20:53,080 --> 00:20:55,520 Speaker 2: You have access to nothing. They take everything from you 369 00:20:55,600 --> 00:20:58,639 Speaker 2: except for one book and a tablet where they allow 370 00:20:58,680 --> 00:21:01,560 Speaker 2: you to allege you contact your family, they said, for 371 00:21:01,600 --> 00:21:04,200 Speaker 2: whatever reason, he was only able to contact one niece. 372 00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:08,560 Speaker 2: But you are alone with your thoughts and your book period. 373 00:21:09,640 --> 00:21:14,600 Speaker 2: Now he's going to be what reintroduced back into prison 374 00:21:15,320 --> 00:21:17,720 Speaker 2: social life. I wow. 375 00:21:19,119 --> 00:21:21,960 Speaker 1: I mean he has a new lease on life alive. 376 00:21:22,040 --> 00:21:25,920 Speaker 1: He will never see free air the rest of his life. 377 00:21:25,920 --> 00:21:28,240 Speaker 1: He never will, barring some miracle. But this was a 378 00:21:28,280 --> 00:21:31,160 Speaker 1: part of the clemency, is that he can even request 379 00:21:31,200 --> 00:21:33,840 Speaker 1: he is not allowed to go before the parole board again. 380 00:21:34,119 --> 00:21:37,840 Speaker 1: He concedes that he will never get out of prison. 381 00:21:37,920 --> 00:21:41,280 Speaker 1: So this is it. He gets a life. This is 382 00:21:41,359 --> 00:21:42,760 Speaker 1: a young man by our. 383 00:21:42,880 --> 00:21:45,120 Speaker 2: Twenty six he's younger than you, forty six years old. 384 00:21:45,160 --> 00:21:47,879 Speaker 2: But now he can have those visits with his family, 385 00:21:47,920 --> 00:21:51,119 Speaker 2: even if it's through glass. He can have his daily 386 00:21:51,240 --> 00:21:54,200 Speaker 2: twenty minute conversation with his family, and there is value 387 00:21:54,240 --> 00:21:56,840 Speaker 2: to that for his family. They call him the glue 388 00:21:57,600 --> 00:22:02,400 Speaker 2: of their family, and I imagine now what he will 389 00:22:02,440 --> 00:22:04,480 Speaker 2: be able. I hope. I hope for him, I hope 390 00:22:04,480 --> 00:22:09,000 Speaker 2: for his family that this literal new lease on life. 391 00:22:09,040 --> 00:22:13,479 Speaker 2: He was just given years. He was just given an 392 00:22:13,480 --> 00:22:17,560 Speaker 2: opportunity that most people do not get, and it'll be 393 00:22:17,560 --> 00:22:19,640 Speaker 2: interesting to see what he does with it. We want 394 00:22:19,640 --> 00:22:22,600 Speaker 2: to follow up with the family. We actually are going 395 00:22:22,640 --> 00:22:25,240 Speaker 2: to without a doubt, hopefully have at some point there 396 00:22:25,280 --> 00:22:28,800 Speaker 2: I'm sure being inundated in a joyful way with lots 397 00:22:28,800 --> 00:22:31,800 Speaker 2: of media requests, but we'll get them back on the podcast. 398 00:22:31,880 --> 00:22:34,720 Speaker 1: They can sleep differently, and you didn't share. It's kind 399 00:22:34,720 --> 00:22:39,320 Speaker 1: of it seems morbid, but it's it's human curiosity always 400 00:22:39,320 --> 00:22:42,680 Speaker 1: because it always makes it always sparks a conversation right. 401 00:22:42,480 --> 00:22:45,600 Speaker 2: Among folks in front of him. 402 00:22:45,640 --> 00:22:49,200 Speaker 3: Yeah, he got he had a three piece fried catfish 403 00:22:49,240 --> 00:22:54,600 Speaker 3: platter with oakrah and coleslaw, seven tartar sauce packets, seven 404 00:22:54,680 --> 00:22:57,480 Speaker 3: hot sauce packets, so he probably mixed those all up. 405 00:22:58,040 --> 00:23:00,600 Speaker 2: A pint of chocolate ice cream and a two leader 406 00:23:00,680 --> 00:23:04,440 Speaker 2: of doctor Pepper. How many people can say they consumed 407 00:23:04,520 --> 00:23:09,679 Speaker 2: their last meal and lived to see another day, another week, another. 408 00:23:09,520 --> 00:23:12,800 Speaker 1: Year, another meal he's going to get to eat. I 409 00:23:12,880 --> 00:23:16,439 Speaker 1: would like to know now his first meal, really that 410 00:23:16,560 --> 00:23:18,800 Speaker 1: was his last. I would like to now know his 411 00:23:18,920 --> 00:23:22,560 Speaker 1: first Folks will follow this one. And again a head's up, 412 00:23:22,680 --> 00:23:25,240 Speaker 1: we might have more news on this front. As you 413 00:23:25,280 --> 00:23:26,880 Speaker 1: all know, we've been covering a lot of but there's 414 00:23:26,880 --> 00:23:29,560 Speaker 1: been extraordinary year when it comes to executions in this country. 415 00:23:29,600 --> 00:23:32,159 Speaker 1: And we're talking about this one today was scheduled for 416 00:23:32,200 --> 00:23:35,480 Speaker 1: this morning, but there is another one scheduled for tonight 417 00:23:36,040 --> 00:23:39,800 Speaker 1: in Florida for someone who's guilt is not necessarily being 418 00:23:39,880 --> 00:23:42,800 Speaker 1: questioned and people aren't rallying to oh, it's not questioned 419 00:23:42,840 --> 00:23:45,159 Speaker 1: at all. Bear his life. That one's tonight, and there's 420 00:23:45,200 --> 00:23:48,359 Speaker 1: another schedule for tomorrow Robes in South Carolina, and this 421 00:23:48,440 --> 00:23:49,760 Speaker 1: is going to be another firing squad. 422 00:23:49,800 --> 00:23:51,960 Speaker 2: When is Aaron This is going to be the third 423 00:23:52,320 --> 00:23:55,720 Speaker 2: firing squad execution of the year for the state of 424 00:23:55,760 --> 00:23:58,920 Speaker 2: South Carolina. We'll explain why that's become a popular mode 425 00:23:58,920 --> 00:24:04,840 Speaker 2: of execution specifically in that state in that episode. But certainly, 426 00:24:04,960 --> 00:24:09,880 Speaker 2: this is a moment that is exceptionally rare and certainly 427 00:24:09,920 --> 00:24:14,399 Speaker 2: one that I know the Wood family is not taking lightly. 428 00:24:14,480 --> 00:24:18,359 Speaker 2: This is a day for celebration for them. And look, 429 00:24:18,400 --> 00:24:20,560 Speaker 2: it's not just a celebration for the Wood family, but 430 00:24:20,880 --> 00:24:23,520 Speaker 2: I believe the victim's family as well, because they also 431 00:24:23,600 --> 00:24:26,640 Speaker 2: had their wishes granted as well, and that's not often 432 00:24:26,680 --> 00:24:28,439 Speaker 2: the case that they were able to at least, and 433 00:24:28,520 --> 00:24:32,159 Speaker 2: I know that they know that what they told the 434 00:24:32,200 --> 00:24:37,120 Speaker 2: governor had to have had a huge impact on his decision, 435 00:24:37,160 --> 00:24:40,280 Speaker 2: and so they might sleep a little better tonight knowing 436 00:24:40,640 --> 00:24:44,719 Speaker 2: that another senseless death didn't occur from that night back 437 00:24:44,760 --> 00:24:45,560 Speaker 2: in two thousand and two. 438 00:24:45,760 --> 00:24:48,800 Speaker 1: That's amazing. I did not think about that they were 439 00:24:48,880 --> 00:24:53,479 Speaker 1: actively advocating for saving his life. Now that is some 440 00:24:53,520 --> 00:24:56,840 Speaker 1: different level of humanity there. I didn't think, Wow, I'm 441 00:24:56,880 --> 00:24:59,840 Speaker 1: glad you did that. At the end, I did not 442 00:25:00,320 --> 00:25:02,760 Speaker 1: think about that is a beautiful thing, because you know 443 00:25:02,840 --> 00:25:06,160 Speaker 1: that is what they had to have done. What a 444 00:25:06,200 --> 00:25:09,320 Speaker 1: story from a tragedy. Hain't it rogues, folks. We always 445 00:25:09,359 --> 00:25:12,920 Speaker 1: appreciate you spending some time with us. We're following this one. 446 00:25:13,000 --> 00:25:14,960 Speaker 1: We'll talk to you all real soon. For now, on 447 00:25:15,040 --> 00:25:18,320 Speaker 1: TJ Holmes on behalf of my Dear Amy Robot. Talk 448 00:25:18,359 --> 00:25:18,840 Speaker 1: to you. Alsoon