An Oklahoma board has rejected clemency for Wendell Grissom, a 57-year-old man sentenced to die for fatally shooting a woman during a 2005 home-invasion robbery. The decision paves the way for Grissom to become the first person executed in the state this year, with a scheduled date of March 20 for his lethal injection.
Grissom, along with a co-defendant, was convicted of killing Amber Matthews and wounding her friend at a residence in Blaine County. While his attorneys did not dispute his guilt, they argued that Grissom suffered from brain damage that was not presented to the jury during his trial. They emphasized his remorse and acceptance of responsibility for the crime.
