Richard Glossip

{{Short description|American prisoner on death row}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox criminal | name = Richard Glossip | birth_name = Richard Eugene Glossip | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1963|02|09}}<ref name="OK">{{cite web|url=http://docapp065p.doc.state.ok.us/servlet/page?_pageid=394&_dad=portal30&_schema=PORTAL30&doc_num=267303&offender_book_id=1575814|title=Oklahoma Department of Corrections: Name Richard E Glossip ODOC# 267303|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304042723/http://docapp065p.doc.state.ok.us/servlet/page?_pageid=394&_dad=portal30&_schema=PORTAL30&doc_num=267303&offender_book_id=1575814|archive-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref> | allegiance =  | conviction = 1998, re-tried and re-convicted 2004: first-degree murder (overturned February 25, 2025)<ref name="OK" /> | imprisoned = Released on court bail }}

'''Richard Eugene Glossip''' (born February 9, 1963) is an American former prisoner who was on death row<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://oklahoma.gov/doc/offender-info/death-row/inmates-sentenced-to-death.html | title = Inmates Sentenced to Death | access-date = June 9, 2022 | website = Oklahoma Department of Corrections | quote = 267303 - Glossip, Richard E. | archive-date = April 7, 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230407212232/https://oklahoma.gov/doc/offender-info/death-row/inmates-sentenced-to-death.html | url-status = dead }}</ref> for over two decades at Oklahoma State Penitentiary after being convicted of commissioning the 1997 murder of Barry Van Treese.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ex-Motel Manager Found Guilty in Murder|url=http://newsok.com/article/2616165|website=NewsOK.com|date=June 11, 1998|access-date=February 13, 2016}}</ref> The man who murdered Van Treese, Justin Sneed (age 19 when he committed the crime), had a "meth habit" and agreed to plead guilty in exchange for testifying against Glossip. Sneed received a life sentence without parole, avoiding the death penalty by his plea bargain. Glossip's case has attracted international attention due to the unusual nature of his conviction, namely that there was little or no corroborating evidence,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oklahoma court denies stay of execution in Richard Glossip case |url=http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/9/28/glossip-loses-execution-appeal-in-oklahoma.html |website=Al Jazeera America |access-date=February 13, 2016 |date=September 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129075406/http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/9/28/glossip-loses-execution-appeal-in-oklahoma.html |archive-date=January 29, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://kfor.com/2015/09/16/appeals-court-grants-richard-glossip-two-week-stay-of-execution/|title=Appeals court grants Richard Glossip two week stay hours before execution|work=KFOR.com|date=September 16, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|author=Crimesider Staff|title=Oklahoma inmate Richard Glossip set to die for 1997 killing|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/oklahoma-inmate-richard-glossip-set-to-die-for-1997-killing/|work=Crimesider|publisher=CBS News|date=September 16, 2015|access-date=September 16, 2015|quote=Richard Eugene Glossip's attorneys asked the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals late Tuesday to stop his lethal injection, saying they uncovered new details in the case, including a signed affidavit from an inmate who served time with Justin Sneed, who also was convicted of the killing and is serving a life sentence.}}</ref><ref name="msnbc">{{Cite news|first=Tracy|last=Connor|title=Oklahoma's Richard Glossip is Nun's 7th 'Dead Man Walking'|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/lethal-injection/oklahomas-richard-glossip-nuns-7th-dead-man-walking-n427916|work=Storyline > Lethal Injection|publisher=NBC News|date=2015|access-date=September 15, 2015|quote=Prejean, who runs the Ministry Against the Death Penalty out of Louisiana, traveled to Oklahoma to prepare for what was looking more inevitable as the hours passed, especially after Gov. Mary Fallin refused to delay his execution.}}</ref> with the first case against him described as "extremely weak" by the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals.<ref name="appeals-court" /> On February 25, 2025, the US Supreme Court set aside Glossip's conviction in ''Glossip v. Oklahoma'' and ordered a new trial.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Howe |first=Amy |date=February 25, 2025 |title=Supreme Court grants Richard Glossip new trial in capital case |url=https://www.scotusblog.com/2025/02/supreme-court-grants-richard-glossip-new-trial-in-capital-case/ |access-date=February 25, 2025 |website=SCOTUSblog |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":3" /> On May 14, 2026, Oklahoma County District Judge Natalie Mai set Glossip's bond at $500,000. She ordered him to live with his wife, wear an electronic monitoring device, abide by a curfew from 10 pm to 7 am, and forbid him from traveling outside the state.<ref>{{Cite web |first1=Liliana |last1=Segura |first2=Jordan |last2=Smith |date=May 14, 2026 |title=Richard Glossip Set For Release From Jail After Three Decades Behind Bars |url=https://theintercept.com/2026/05/14/richard-glossip-bond-release-oklahoma-judge-natalie-mai/ |access-date=May 14, 2026 |website=The Intercept |language=en-US}}</ref>

Glossip is notable for his role as named plaintiff in the 2015 Supreme Court case ''Glossip v. Gross'', which ruled that executions carried out by a three-drug protocol of midazolam, pancuronium bromide, and potassium chloride did not constitute cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Glossip v. Gross|url = http://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/glossip-v-gross/|website = SCOTUSblog|access-date = February 13, 2016}}</ref>

In September<ref>{{Cite web|title = Oklahoma Halts Execution of Richard Glossip|url = https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2015/09/richard-glossip-and-the-death-penalty/408217/|website = The Atlantic|access-date = February 13, 2016|first = Matt|last = Ford|date = September 30, 2015}}</ref> and October 2015,<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.newsweek.com/oklahoma-attorney-general-requests-indefinite-stay-execution-3-inmates-378802|title = Oklahoma Attorney General Requests Three Indefinite Stays of Execution|date = October 2015|access-date = February 12, 2016|website = Newsweek|publisher = |last = Walker|first = Lauren}}</ref> Glossip was granted three successive stays of execution due to questions about Oklahoma's lethal injection drugs after Oklahoma Department of Corrections officials used potassium acetate instead of potassium chloride to execute Charles Frederick Warner on January 15, 2015, contrary to protocol.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title = Wrong drug used for January execution, state records show|url = http://newsok.com/wrong-drug-used-for-january-execution-state-records-show/article/5452084|website = NewsOK.com|access-date = October 8, 2015}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title = Latest: AG's letter contradicts inmates autopsy report :: WRAL.com|url = http://www.wral.com/latest-oklahoma-used-wrong-drug-in-january-execution/14955586/|website = WRAL.com|access-date = October 9, 2015}}</ref> Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt ordered a multicounty grand jury investigation of the execution drug mix-up.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Governor's legal counsel resigns four months after testifying before grand jury|url = http://newsok.com/article/5478311|website = NewsOK.com|date = February 11, 2016|access-date = February 17, 2016|language = en-US}}</ref>

== Murder of Barry Van Treese == On January 7, 1997, Justin Sneed beat Barry Van Treese to death with a baseball bat.<ref name="theintercept">[https://theintercept.com/2015/07/09/oklahoma-prepares-resume-executions-richard-glossip-first-line-die/ Liliana Segura & Jordan Smith, What Happened in Room 102], ''The Intercept'' (July 9, 2015).</ref> The killing occurred at the Best Budget Inn in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where Van Treese was the owner, Sneed was the maintenance man, and Glossip was the manager.<ref name="theintercept" /> In exchange for avoiding the death penalty, Sneed confessed and told police that Glossip had instructed him to commit the murder.<ref name="theintercept" />

Glossip insisted on his actual innocence and refused to accept a plea bargain.<ref name="theintercept" /> In July 1998, an Oklahoma jury convicted Glossip of the murder and sentenced him to death.<ref name="theintercept" /> In 2001, the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals unanimously threw out that conviction, calling the case "extremely weak" and finding Glossip had received unconstitutionally ineffective assistance of counsel.<ref name="theintercept" /><ref name="appeals-court">{{Cite web | url = https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=1903408540700431318&hl=en&as_sdt=2006 | title = ''Glossip v. Oklahoma'', 29 P.3d 597, 2001 O.K. C.R. 21 (Okla. Crim. App. 2001) | access-date = June 9, 2022 | author = Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals | year = 2001 | quote = 8. The evidence at trial tending to corroborate Sneed's testimony was extremely weak. We recognize a conviction cannot be had upon the testimony of an accomplice unless it is 'corroborated by such other evidence as tends to connect the defendant with the commission of the offense, and the corroboration is not sufficient if it merely show the commission of the offense or the circumstances thereof.'}}</ref>

In August 2004, a second Oklahoma jury convicted Glossip of the murder and sentenced him to death.<ref name="theintercept" /> Glossip complained that prosecutors had intimidated his defense attorney into resigning. However, in April 2007, the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the death sentence, with two judges in the majority, one judge specially concurring, and two judges dissenting.<ref name="theintercept" /><ref>[https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=2141767757833512191&hl=en&as_sdt=2006 ''Glossip v. Oklahoma''], 157 P.3d 143, 2007 O.K. C.R. 12 (Okla. Crim. App. 2007).</ref> Glossip attracted the advocacy of Sister Helen Prejean, but failed to get the clemency board to consider letters from Sneed's family, who believed Sneed to be lying.<ref name="theintercept" />

== Innocence controversy == Glossip's legal team asserts that Justin Sneed was addicted to methamphetamine at the time that he murdered Van Treese, and that he habitually broke into vehicles in the parking lot of the Best Budget Inn while he was employed as a maintenance man.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Austin |last=Prickett |title = Glossip legal team releases new information about Justin Sneed|url = http://okcfox.com/news/oklahoma-executions/glossip-legal-team-releases-new-information-about-justin-sneed|website = KOKH|access-date = February 13, 2016|date = September 11, 2015}}</ref> Glossip's death sentence is controversial because he was convicted almost entirely on the testimony of Sneed, who confessed to bludgeoning Van Treese to death with an aluminum baseball bat by himself and who was spared a death sentence himself by implicating Glossip.<ref name="msnbc" /><ref>{{Cite news|title = Oklahoma Inmate the Focus of Renewed Attention as Execution Date Nears|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/12/us/oklahoma-inmate-the-focus-of-renewed-attention-as-execution-date-nears.html|newspaper = The New York Times|date = September 11, 2015|access-date = September 26, 2015|issn = 0362-4331|first = Erik|last = Eckholm}}</ref>

In 2015, Oklahoma City police released a 1999 police report showing that a box of evidence had been marked for destruction. The report was never provided to attorneys who represented Glossip in his second trial or his appeals, according to his new defense team.<ref>{{Cite news|title = New questions about destroyed evidence could put Glossip case back in federal court|website = KOKH|url = https://okcfox.com/news/oklahoma-executions/new-questions-about-destroyed-evidence-could-put-glossip-case-back-in-federal-courthttps://okcfox.com/news/oklahoma-executions/new-questions-about-destroyed-evidence-could-put-glossip-case-back-in-federal-court|first = Phil|last = Cross|date = September 19, 2015}}</ref> In an interview published the same day, Glossip's attorney, Donald Knight, criticised his previous attorneys, saying "They did a terrible job. Horrible. No preparation. No investigation."<ref>{{Cite news |first=Gavin |last=Jenkins |title = Talking to an Attorney for the Oklahoma Death Row Inmate Who Just Avoided Execution |work=Vice | date=September 21, 2015 |url = https://www.vice.com/en/article/talking-to-the-attorney-for-the-oklahoma-man-who-just-avoided-execution-921/|access-date = February 26, 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250226022040/https://www.vice.com/en/article/talking-to-the-attorney-for-the-oklahoma-man-who-just-avoided-execution-921/|archive-date=February 26, 2025}}</ref>

On September 22, 2015, Glossip's attorneys filed papers referring to a July 1997 psychiatric evaluation of Sneed, in which he said he understood he was charged with murder in connection with a burglary and made no reference to Glossip's involvement.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Ian |last=Woods |title = Glossip's Lawyers File New Documents To Court |work=Sky News |url = https://news.sky.com/story/glossips-lawyers-file-new-documents-to-court-10345558|access-date = February 26, 2025}}</ref>

On September 23, 2015, Glossip's attorneys filed papers asserting that two new witnesses were being intimidated. In affidavits, one witness had claimed that Sneed laughed about lying in court about Glossip's involvement; another said he was convinced based on his conversations with Sneed that Sneed acted alone.<ref>{{Cite news|title = Glossip attorneys file documents alleging the State is intimidating witnesses|website = KOKH|url = https://okcfox.com/news/oklahoma-executions/glossip-attorneys-file-documents-alleging-the-state-is-intimidating-witnesses-01-27-2016|first = Phil|last = Cross|date=September 23, 2015|access-date = February 26, 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250226023223/https://okcfox.com/news/oklahoma-executions/glossip-attorneys-file-documents-alleging-the-state-is-intimidating-witnesses-01-27-2016 |archive-date=February 26, 2025}}</ref>

On September 24, 2015, the Oklahoma Attorney General's Office filed papers stating that the claims of the new witnesses were "inherently suspect", and that the time it took Van Treese to die and whether blood loss contributed to his death did not affect the trial outcome, in response to a defense claim that the testimony of Dr. Chai Choi, who performed the autopsy, was incorrect.<ref>{{Cite news|title = AG's office calls witnesses' claims 'inherently suspect'|date = September 25, 2015|url = https://eu.oklahoman.com/story/news/2015/09/24/ags-office-calls-witnesses-in-glossip-innocence-claim-inherently-suspect/60720908007/|access-date = February 26, 2025}}</ref>

On September 28, 2015, the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals voted 3–2 to proceed with execution.<ref>{{Cite news|title = Court denies Richard Glossip appeal, Wednesday execution to go forward|website = KOKH|url = http://www.okcfox.com/story/30133314/court-denies-richard-glossip-appeal-wednesday-execution-to-go-forward|access-date = September 29, 2015|first = Phil|last = Cross |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930041038/http://www.okcfox.com/story/30133314/court-denies-richard-glossip-appeal-wednesday-execution-to-go-forward |archive-date=September 30, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |first1=Kim |last1=Bellware |first2=Cristian |last2=Farias |title = Divided Oklahoma Court Refuses To Halt Richard Glossip's Execution|url = https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/richard-glossip-execution_n_560987b3e4b0dd850308867b|work = The Huffington Post|date = September 28, 2015|access-date = September 29, 2015}}</ref> Presiding Judge Clancy Smith wrote "While finality of judgment is important, the state has no interest in executing an actually innocent man. An evidentiary hearing will give Glossip the chance to prove his allegations that Sneed has recanted, or demonstrate to the court that he cannot provide evidence that would exonerate him." Judge Arlene Johnson wrote that the original trial was "deeply flawed" and an evidentiary hearing should be ordered.<ref>{{Cite news|title = Richard Glossip denied stay of execution: Will Supreme Court intervene?|date=September 29, 2015|url = https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2015/0929/Richard-Glossip-denied-stay-of-execution-Will-Supreme-Court-intervene|newspaper = Christian Science Monitor|access-date = February 26, 2025|issn = 0882-7729|first = Beatrice|last = Gitau}}</ref>

On September 30, 2015, Glossip spoke to the UK's Sky News on the telephone from his cell as he was served his last meal. Glossip said that Sneed testified at trial that Glossip did not wear or own gloves, "And now he's on TV saying that I did. It continues to show the discrepancies in anything that Justin Sneed has to say."<ref>{{Cite news|title = Glossip In Last-Minute Appeal Over Execution|url = http://news.sky.com/story/1561270/glossip-in-last-minute-appeal-over-execution|access-date = September 30, 2015}}</ref> On the same day, Virgin CEO Richard Branson bought an advertisement in ''The Oklahoman'' newspaper which had campaigned against the execution, with Branson stating the evidence against Glossip is flawed and that "every person is deserving of a fair trial", adding, "Your state is about to execute a man whose guilt has not been proven beyond a reasonable doubt."<ref>{{cite news |first=Erin |last=McCann |title=Oklahoma governor stays execution of Richard Glossip amid drug concerns|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/sep/30/richard-glossip-oklahoma-execution|work=The Guardian|date=September 30, 2015}}</ref> The United States Supreme Court denied a stay of execution. Justice Stephen Breyer wrote that he would have granted a stay.<ref name="Atlantic">{{Cite news|title = Oklahoma Halts Execution of Richard Glossip|url = https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2015/09/richard-glossip-and-the-death-penalty/408217/|access-date = October 1, 2015|first = Matt|last = Ford|website = The Atlantic|date = September 30, 2015}}</ref><ref name="TelegraphUK">{{Cite news|title = Oklahoma governor grants last-minute stay of execution to Richard Glossip |agency=Reuters |work=The Telegraph | date=October 1, 2015 |url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/11903444/Oklahoma-governor-grants-last-minute-stay-of-execution-to-Richard-Glossip.html|access-date = February 26, 2025}}</ref> Ultimately, Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin did grant Glossip a stay of execution the same day, citing discrepancies with the lethal injection protocol (see next section).<ref name="Atlantic" /><ref name="TelegraphUK" />

In July 2022, Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board member Richard Smothermon, who had up to that point voted to deny clemency to every death row inmate seeking it, voted to recuse himself from voting because his wife had been a prosecutor on the case.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=July 18, 2022 |first=Elizabeth |last=Caldwell |title=Clemency hearing postponed for death row inmate almost executed three times |work=Public Radio Tulsa |url=https://www.publicradiotulsa.org/local-regional/2022-07-18/clemency-hearing-postponed-for-death-row-inmate-almost-executed-three-times}}</ref> In August 2022, 61 lawmakers urged Attorney General John O'Connor to support Glossip's request for a new hearing because without "support from O'Connor, the Court of Criminal Appeals is expected to reject Glossip's claims of innocence, as it has done before."<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 9, 2022 |first=Carmen |last=Forman |title=61 lawmakers ask Okla. Attorney General O'Connor to back Glossip's request for new hearing |newspaper=The Oklahoman |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/crime/2022/08/09/oklahoma-republican-lawmakers-attorney-general-john-oconnor-new-hearing-richard-glossip/65395793007/}}</ref>

=== Kevin McDugle advocacy === In 2022, Oklahoma state representative Kevin McDugle, a Republican, said "he would fight to end the death penalty if Glossip dies."<ref name=":2" /> He has been quoted as saying, "They can show me nothing that ties him, and the one thing they have is a witness that says that he was the one that told him to commit the murder. Guess who that witness was? The actual murderer that beat him with a baseball bat. He's the witness, and what did he get for that testimony? He got off of death row himself and got life in prison."<ref name="publicradiotulsa.org">{{Cite news |date=April 11, 2023 |first=Max |last=Bryan |title=Interview with state Rep. Kevin McDugle on Richard Glossip, Oklahoma executions |url=https://www.publicradiotulsa.org/local-regional/2023-04-11/interview-with-state-rep-kevin-mcdugle-on-richard-glossip-oklahoma-executions |access-date=April 11, 2023 |website=Public Radio Tulsa |language=en}}</ref> In May 2023, McDugle accused the District Attorneys Council of applying "pressure across the system to protect their power" and claimed district attorneys are "deeply embedded" in Oklahoma's branches of government in his attempt to help Richard Glossip.{{clarify|What does "district attorneys are 'deeply embedded' in Oklahoma's branches of government in his attempt to help Richard Glossip" mean? Is there some text missing?|date=December 2023}} The Council has also "actively sought to undermine Prater's successor, Vicki Behenna, the county's first female elected DA". Prater and the Council knows "that if the courts agree that Glossip's conviction should be overturned, it will be up to Behenna to decide whether to retry the case."<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Segura |first1=Liliana |last2=Smith |first2=Jordan |date=May 10, 2023 |title=The 'Power, Pride, and Politics' Behind the Drive to Execute Richard Glossip |url=https://theintercept.com/2023/05/10/richard-glossip-execution-stay/ |access-date=May 11, 2023 |website=The Intercept |language=en}}</ref> McDugle worked with Dr. Phil to bring attention to Glossip's case.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ferguson |first=Tom |date=May 9, 2023 |title=Dr. Phil McGraw advocates for Richard Glossip at Oklahoma State Capitol |url=https://okcfox.com/news/local/dr-phil-mcgraw-advocates-for-richard-glossip-at-oklahoma-state-capitol-ok-okla-capital-punishment-death-row-penalty-barry-van-treese-connie-smothermon-don-knight-jj-humphrey-rep-kevin-mcdugle-lea-wife-david-prater-county-prosecutor-district-attorney |access-date=May 19, 2023 |website=KOKH |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=May 9, 2023 |title=Dr. Phil joins lawmakers in rally to support death-row inmate Glossip |url=https://www.krmg.com/news/local/dr-phil-joins-lawmakers-rally-support-death-row-inmate-glossip/S3PMSA4X5BFLHG7SNDH2A2AUQY/ |access-date=May 19, 2023 |website=102.3 KRMG |language=en |archive-date=May 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519195319/https://www.krmg.com/news/local/dr-phil-joins-lawmakers-rally-support-death-row-inmate-glossip/S3PMSA4X5BFLHG7SNDH2A2AUQY/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> McDugle is quoted as saying "This case is no longer about justice. It's about power, pride, and politics."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ferguson |first=tom |date=May 4, 2023 |title=Lawmakers, faith leaders call for stop to Richard Glossip's planned execution |url=https://okcfox.com/news/local/lawmakers-faith-leaders-call-for-stop-to-richard-glossips-planned-execution-sister-helen-prejean-don-knight-barry-van-treese-jj-humphrey-kevin-mcdugle-rep-adam-luck-demetrius-minor-capital-punishment- |access-date=May 19, 2023 |website=KOKH |language=en}}</ref> He has threatened to try to legislatively put a stop to the death penalty in Oklahoma if Glossip is executed.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Ginnie |last=Graham |date=May 10, 2023 |title=Tulsa World Opinion podcast: Rep. Kevin McDugle on conservative Republican calls to halt Richard Glossip execution |url=https://tulsaworld.com/opinion/tulsa-world-opinion-podcast-rep-kevin-mcdugle-on-conservative-republican-calls-to-halt-richard-glossip/article_62bca982-ef35-11ed-8690-dbc6d0fc5893.html |access-date=May 19, 2023 |website=Tulsa World |language=en}}</ref>

In 2024, McDugle said he "believes that members of the Oklahoma District Attorneys Council had improper communications with the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board prior to Richard Glossip's clemency hearing in April 2023." District Attorney Jason Hicks criticized Attorney General Getner Drummond for sharing his views on the case. In other communications revealed, district attorneys referred to Drummond as a "douche", "complained among themselves that the attorney general had turned Glossip's clemency hearing into a 'circus{{'"}}, and accused Drummond of vying for a run for governor.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Steve |last=Metzer |date=March 22, 2024 |title=Lawmakers chime in after DA's comments surface about Drummond, Glossip clemency |url=https://tulsaworld.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/lawmakers-chime-in-after-das-comments-surface-about-drummond-glossip-clemency/article_c1c7839a-e6ea-11ee-abc5-93707d50b6e6.html |access-date=March 30, 2024 |website=Tulsa World |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Clay |first1=Nolan |title=Newly released DA texts show anger over AG stance on death row inmate Richard Glossip |url=https://www.aol.com/newly-released-da-texts-show-100910108.html |access-date=April 3, 2026 |newspaper=The Oklahoman |date=March 18, 2024 |via=AOL}}</ref>

== Oklahoma lethal injection protocol controversy == On October 13, 2014, the Oklahoma Attorney General said the state did not have an adequate supply of execution drugs and delayed the execution of Glossip and two other inmates. On January 28, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court halted executions in Oklahoma until it decided on lethal injection drugs.<ref name="OKCtimeline">{{Cite web|title = Timeline of events in Richard Glossip's case|url = http://www.okcfox.com/story/30135869/timeline-of-events-in-richard-glossips-case|website = www.okcfox.com|date = September 28, 2015|access-date = October 9, 2015}}</ref> However, in June 2015, the Supreme Court approved the use of Oklahoma's lethal injection mix in combination with midazolam (see sub-section below) to carry out executions, leading to a reinstatement of capital punishments in the state and a new execution date for Glossip.<ref name="OKCtimeline" />

Governor Fallin's stay of Glossip's execution on September 30, 2015, was motivated by the Department of Corrections having received potassium acetate instead of potassium chloride. The execution was reset for November 6, 2015.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2015/09/30/us/oklahoma-richard-glossip-midazolam-execution/index.html|title = Oklahoma's governor stays Richard Glossip execution| newspaper=CNN | date=September 30, 2015 | last1=McLaughlin | first1=Eliott C.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Oklahoma governor stays execution of Richard Glossip amid drug concerns|url = https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/sep/30/richard-glossip-oklahoma-execution|website = the Guardian|access-date = October 1, 2015|first = Erin|last = McCann|date = September 30, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title = Oklahoma Governor Grants Richard Glossip a Stay of Execution|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/01/us/oklahoma-execution-richard-glossip.html|newspaper = The New York Times|date = September 30, 2015|access-date = October 1, 2015|issn = 0362-4331|first1 = Carol|last1 = Cole-frowe|first2 = Manny|last2 = Fernandez}}</ref>

On October 1, 2015, Attorney General Scott Pruitt asked the Court of Criminal Appeals to issue an indefinite stay of all scheduled executions in Oklahoma, citing the Department of Correction's acquisition of a drug contrary to protocol.<ref>{{Cite web|title = AG Requests Indefinite Stay Of All Executions In Oklahoma|url = http://www.newson6.com/story/30165365/ag-requests-indefinite-stay-of-all-executions-in-oklahoma|access-date = October 1, 2015|first = Matthew|last = Nuttle|archive-date = October 2, 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151002073542/http://www.newson6.com/story/30165365/ag-requests-indefinite-stay-of-all-executions-in-oklahoma|url-status = dead}}</ref> The next day, the request was granted.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Oklahoma appeals court agrees to indefinitely halt state's executions|url = https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/oct/02/oklahoma-court-halt-executions-lethal-injection-drugs|website = the Guardian|access-date = October 4, 2015|agency= The Associated Press |date = October 2, 2015}}</ref>

On October 6, 2015, Governor Mary Fallin said she hired an independent attorney, Robert McCampbell, to advise her on the legal process.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Oklahoma governor hires outside attorney amid Glossip execution drug inquiry|url = http://newsok.com/article/5451783|website = NewsOK.com|date = October 6, 2015|access-date = October 7, 2015}}</ref>

On October 8, 2015, it was reported that Oklahoma Corrections Department officials used potassium acetate to execute Charles Frederick Warner on January 15, 2015, contrary to protocol.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> An attorney representing Glossip and other Oklahoma death row inmates said logs from Warner's execution initialed by a prison staff member indicated the use of potassium chloride; however, an autopsy report showed 12 vials of potassium acetate were used.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Latest: AG's Letter Contradicts Inmates Autopsy Report|url = https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/report-oklahoma-wrong-drug-january-execution-34336256|website = ABC News|access-date = October 9, 2015}}</ref>

According to a report on October 16, 2015, due to a grand jury investigation, it was likely the state would not conduct an execution for more than a year.<ref>{{Cite web|title = All Oklahoma executions are on hold until at least 2016|url = http://newsok.com/all-oklahoma-executions-are-on-hold-until-at-least-2016/article/5453934/|website = NewsOK.com|access-date = October 24, 2015}}</ref>

=== Midazolam controversy === Glossip was the named plaintiff in ''Glossip v. Gross'', a U.S. Supreme Court case decided in June 2015 in which a divided Court ruled 5–4 with Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, John Roberts, and Anthony Kennedy voting to allow the execution to proceed, and Stephen Breyer, Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg voting to halt it. Sotomayor wrote, "But under the court's new rule, it would not matter whether the state intended to use midazolam, or instead to have petitioners drawn and quartered, slowly tortured to death or actually burned at the stake."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Liptak |first=Adam |date=June 30, 2015 |title=Supreme Court Allows Use of Execution Drug |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/30/us/supreme-court-execution-drug.html |access-date=September 30, 2022 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The court found the drug midazolam may be used as a sedative in combination with other lethal injection drugs. The case was originally titled ''Warner v. Gross'', but Glossip replaced Charles Frederick Warner as the plaintiff after Warner was executed in January 2015, also by Oklahoma, before the case was decided.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/27/opinion/the-humane-death-penalty-charade.html?_r=0|title=The Humane Death Penalty Charade|work=New York Times|date=January 27, 2015|author=Editorial Board}}</ref> The case was reopened in March 2020 as ''Glossip v. Chandler'' after Oklahoma ended its moratorium on the death penalty, with plaintiffs challenging Oklahoma's execution protocol.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shelden |first1=Dana |title=Oklahoma death row prisoners' secure right for new trial in their Eighth Amendment challenge to state lethal injection protocol |url=https://www.city-sentinel.com/community/oklahoma-death-row-prisoners-secure-right-for-new-trial-in-their-eighth-amendment-challenge-to/article_8a564a74-95d3-5d3f-a528-99678d103d1f.html |access-date=May 27, 2022 |publisher=Oklahoma City Sentinel |date=August 11, 2021}}</ref>

== Execution attempts and new trial request == On July 1, 2022, Glossip was one of twenty-five death row inmates to be scheduled for execution in Oklahoma. He was scheduled to be executed on September 22, 2022.<ref>{{cite news |last=Clay |first=Nolan |date=July 1, 2022 |title=Oklahoma sets execution dates for 25 death row inmates through end of 2024 |newspaper=The Oklahoman |url=https://oklahoman.com/story/news/2022/07/01/oklahoma-appeals-court-sets-25-executions-through-end-2024/7772590001/ |access-date=July 1, 2022}}</ref>

On August 16, 2022, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt granted a 60-day stay of execution. Glossip was then scheduled to be executed on December 8, 2022.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Querry-Thompson |first1=K. |title=Gov. Stitt grants 60-day stay of execution for Glossip |url=https://kfor.com/news/local/gov-stitt-grants-60-day-stay-of-execution-for-glossip/ |access-date=August 16, 2022 |work=KFOR-TV |date=August 16, 2022 |archive-date=August 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220816163551/https://kfor.com/news/local/gov-stitt-grants-60-day-stay-of-execution-for-glossip/ |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Oklahoma governor grants Richard Glossip 60-day stay of execution |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/aug/16/richard-glossip-stay-execution-oklahoma-governor |access-date=August 16, 2022 |work=The Guardian |agency=Associated Press |date=August 16, 2022}}</ref> On November 3, 2022, Governor Stitt again granted a stay of execution for Glossip, allowing time for the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals to address his pending legal proceedings. He was rescheduled to be executed on February 16, 2023.<ref>{{cite news|last=Farris|first=Emily|date=November 3, 2022|title=Gov. Kevin Stitt issues second stay of execution for death row inmate Richard Glossip|work=KJRH-TV|url=https://www.kjrh.com/news/local-news/gov-kevin-stitt-issues-second-stay-of-execution-for-death-row-inmate-richard-glossip|access-date=November 3, 2022}}</ref> On January 24, 2023, Glossip's execution was rescheduled to May 18, 2023, after Attorney General Gentner Drummond requested a new execution timetable to accommodate for staff shortages within the Department of Corrections.<ref>{{cite news|title=Oklahoma appeals court agrees to slow pace of executions|work=AP News|url=https://apnews.com/article/legal-proceedings-capital-punishment-oklahoma-crime-dba10d497d6e087337395e4cc2824afc|access-date=January 24, 2023}}</ref> In March, Drummond announced his office would seek to stay the execution until 2024 to allow an independent counsel to review the case.<ref>{{cite news |date=March 27, 2023 |title=AG Drummond Seeks Stay Of Execution For Death Row Inmate Richard Glossip Until 2024 |work=KWTV-DT |url=https://www.newson6.com/story/642216a8ce0184071e1cb5e2/ag-drummond-seeks-stay-of-execution-for-death-row-inmate-richard-glossip-until-2024 |access-date=April 4, 2023 |archive-date=June 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240616192813/https://www.newson6.com/story/642216a8ce0184071e1cb5e2/ag-drummond-seeks-stay-of-execution-for-death-row-inmate-richard-glossip-until-2024 |url-status=dead}}</ref> After the independent review was released, his office filed a motion to vacate the murder conviction of Glossip in April 2023.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Patterson |first1=Matt |last2=Savage |first2=Tres |date=April 6, 2023 |title=Drummond moves to vacate Richard Glossip murder conviction, may trigger third trial |work=Nondoc |url=https://nondoc.com/2023/04/06/gentner-drummond-moves-to-vacate-richard-glossip-murder-conviction/ |access-date=April 7, 2023}}</ref> Drummond did not "proclaim Glossip's innocence, but he did note in a news release there was enough doubt of his guilt that the death penalty and his conviction for murder is inappropriate."<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 6, 2023 |title=Oklahoma AG says conviction of death row inmate Richard Glossip should be vacated |url=https://www.kosu.org/2023-04-06/oklahoma-ag-says-glossips-conviction-should-be-vacated |access-date=April 8, 2023 |website=KOSU |language=en}}</ref> The case went back to the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023 |title=Glossip Case Now Up To Court Of Criminal Appeals |work=News on 6 |url=https://www.newson6.com/story/642f7abd5d1e2a04adb8cc7c/glossip-case-now-up-to-court-of-criminal-appeals |archive-date=November 27, 2024 |access-date=April 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241127090206/https://www.newson6.com/story/642f7abd5d1e2a04adb8cc7c/glossip-case-now-up-to-court-of-criminal-appeals |url-status=dead}}</ref>

On April 20, 2023, the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals ruled against Richard Glossip despite a motion from the state's Attorney General asking the court to vacate Glossip's conviction and remand the case to a lower court. This ruling meant that barring clemency being granted or any further appeals to the US Supreme Court, Glossip would be executed by lethal injection on May 18.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/capital-case-developments/case-update-oklahoma-court-upholds-richard-glossips-conviction | title=Case Update: Oklahoma Court Upholds Richard Glossip's Conviction}}</ref>

In late April 2023, a Clemency Hearing held by the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board denied Glossip clemency in a 2–2 ruling. The reason why a tied vote resulted in denial of clemency in favor of death is due to the rules stating that there must be a 3–2 majority ruling in favor of clemency. There were only 4 panel members instead of 5 as member Richard Smothermon recused himself due to a conflict of interest, being the husband of Glossip's trial prosecutor Connie Smothermon.

In May 2023, Glossip's attorneys filed an application for stay of execution to the U.S. Supreme Court citing new evidence casting doubt on the reliability of the state's star witness Justin Sneed, the man who was convicted of actually carrying out the murder of Barry Van Treese. Oklahoma did not oppose the application and subsequently filed a response supporting the stay of execution.<ref>{{Cite court|litigants=Richard Glossip v. State of Oklahoma|reporter=U.S.|opinion=22A941|court=Supreme Court of the United States|date=May 1, 2023|url=https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/22/22A941/265824/20230501154508421_2023.05.01%20Response%20Stay-Final.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230515000000/https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/22/22A941/265824/20230501154508421_2023.05.01%20Response%20Stay-Final.pdf|archive-date=May 15, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref> Governor Stitt reiterated that he will continue to follow the Parole Board's lead.<ref>[https://ktul.com/news/local/were-going-to-follow-the-law-governor-stitt-on-richard-glossip-execution "We're going to follow the law", Governor Story on Richard Glossip execution], ktul.com. Accessed May 8, 2023.</ref> Ahead of the board hearing, "Kim Kardashian urged her millions of social media followers to contact the parole board and Stitt in a bid to stop the execution."<ref name="5newsonline.com">{{Cite web |date=May 8, 2023 |title=Dr. Phil joining lawmakers for rally against Oklahoma inmate's execution |url=https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/regional/oklahoma/dr-phil-rally-against-oklahoma-inmates-execution-glossip/527-2810914a-982f-4313-b8c4-1dc149beaf03 |access-date=May 19, 2023 |website=5newsonline.com |language=en-US}}</ref> On May 5, the Supreme Court halted Glossip's May 18 execution pending disposition of his petitions for writs of ''certiorari''.<ref>{{Cite news |title=US supreme court halts execution of Oklahoma inmate Richard Glossip |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/may/05/richard-glossip-us-supreme-court-halts-execution-oklahoma |website=The Guardian|date=May 5, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Supreme Court halts execution of Richard Glossip |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/05/politics/glossip-supreme-court-kavanaugh/index.html |website=CNN|date=May 5, 2023}}</ref> This was after Dr. Phil, Rep. Kevin McDugle, Rep. Justin Humphrey, and Sister Helen Prejean rallied for the stay. The Attorney General noted that he was not aware of any AG supporting clemency in the past for a death row inmate, but he was in support.<ref name="5newsonline.com" />

In June 2023, Randy Bauman, a board member of the Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, wrote that it was unfair Glossip did not have all five members in his case and pushed back against the idea that the board is a "safety valve" for an unjust and fallible criminal justice system. The vote had tied because one board member recused himself. Instead of a tie weighing in favor of the convicted, it weighs in favor of the state.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Our judicial system is fallible. The safety valve of the Pardon & Parole Board is failing |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/opinion/2023/06/02/guest-safety-valve-of-the-oklahoma-pardon-parole-board-is-failing/70266962007/ |access-date=June 2, 2023 |newspaper=The Oklahoman |language=en-US}}</ref>

The Supreme Court agreed to hear Glossip's case on January 22, 2024.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Ann E. |last=Marimow |title = Supreme Court will review Okla. death penalty conviction|newspaper = The Washington Post |url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/01/22/richard-glossip-execution-supreme-court-oklahoma/ |access-date = January 22, 2024}}</ref> ''Glossip v. Oklahoma'' was argued before the court on October 9, with associate justice Neil Gorsuch recusing himself due to prior involvement in litigation involving Glossip.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/22-7466.html |title = Docket for No. 22-7466 | accessdate = January 24, 2024 | work = Supreme Court of the United States}}</ref> On February 25, 2025, the Supreme Court vacated Glossip's conviction and ordered a new trial be granted, reversing the State of Oklahoma's affirmation of the previous conviction.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=February 25, 2025 |title=Richard Glossip's Murder Conviction, Death Row Sentence Thrown Out By Supreme Court |url=https://www.news9.com/story/67bddec9817b1ac2ac79a4fb/richard-glossip-supreme-court-murder-conviction-death-row-sentence-thrown-out |access-date=February 25, 2025 |website=News9 |language=en |agency=Associated Press, CBS News |archive-date=February 25, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250225152408/https://www.news9.com/story/67bddec9817b1ac2ac79a4fb/richard-glossip-supreme-court-murder-conviction-death-row-sentence-thrown-out |url-status=dead}}</ref> The State of Oklahoma subsequently confirmed its intention to try Glossip for the murder a third time, albeit without seeking the death penalty on this occasion.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/article/oklahoma-execution-richard-glossip-death-penalty-ad9feec209a88aaae839df68b5352b1a |title=Oklahoma man who was given 3 last meals will stand trial again but won't face the death penalty |newspaper=AP News |date=June 9, 2025 |first=Sean |last=Murphy |publisher=Associated Press}}</ref>

==Subsequent proceedings== Following the overturning of his conviction Glossip's attorneys requested that the court release him on bond to await a decision on his retrial. In July 2025, District Judge Heather Coyle ruled that Glossip could not be released on bond and would remain incarcerated until his third trial.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://theintercept.com/2025/07/24/richard-glossip-bond-denied/ |title=Judge Swallows Prosecutors' Discredited Arguments to Keep Richard Glossip in Jail |newspaper=The Intercept |date=July 24, 2025 |first1=Liliana |last1=Segura |first2=Jordan |last2=Smith}}</ref> Judge Coyle later recused herself from the case on August 14 at the request of Glossip's legal team.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.kosu.org/local-news/2025-08-14/oklahoma-judge-overseeing-richard-glossips-case-recuses-without-explanation |title=Oklahoma judge overseeing Richard Glossip's case recuses without explanation |newspaper=KOSU |date=August 14, 2025 |first=Sierra |last=Pfeifer}}</ref> No reason for the recusal was given publicly, but Glossip's supporters suggested that Coyle's decision was based on her past service as a prosecutor at the same office which conducted the case.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://eu.oklahoman.com/story/news/2025/08/14/richard-glossip-case-oklahoma-new-trial-judge/85660623007/ |title=Judge overseeing Richard Glossip's murder case steps down at defense request |newspaper=The Oklahoman |date=August 14, 2025 |first=Nolan |last=Clay}}</ref> In the following months, several other judges assigned to the case also recused themselves due to close ties with the Oklahoma County District Attorney's office, forcing the Chief District Judge to assign civil court justice Natalie Mai to the case in December 2025.<ref name="Intercept 2026">{{cite news |url=https://theintercept.com/2026/01/01/richard-glossip-oklahoma-jail-new-trial-supreme-court/ |title=It's 2026. Why Is Richard Glossip Still In Jail? |newspaper=The Intercept |date=January 1, 2026 |first=Liliana |last=Segura}}</ref>

On December 29, Glossip asked Judge Mai to reconsider Coyle's earlier ruling denying him release on bond, stating that Coyle's ruling was "directly at odds" with the Supreme Court's decision.<ref name="Intercept 2026" /> Glossip's legal team also claimed that prison officials were refusing him access to medical treatment despite his health deteriorating due to a blood clot, and that continued detention might pose a risk to his life.<ref name="Intercept 2026" /> Two state senators, David Bullard and Justin Humphrey, wrote letters to the court in support of Glossip's release. A bond hearing took place on February 12, 2026, during which Glossip's lawyers argued the evidence against him was not strong enough to justify pretrial detention. In reply, the prosecution claimed that he was a possible flight risk with very few ties to Oklahoma.<ref>{{cite news |first=Sierra |last=Pfeifer |url=https://www.kgou.org/criminal-justice/2026-02-13/oklahoma-judge-weighs-richard-glossips-second-request-for-bond |title=Oklahoma judge weighs Richard Glossip's second request for bond |date=February 13, 2026 |publisher=KGOU}}</ref> Glossip was ultimately granted bail on May 14, allowing him to be released from prison for the first time in nearly thirty years.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/richard-glossip-was-nearly-executed-3-granted-bond-awaiting-retrial-rcna345163 |title=Richard Glossip, who was nearly executed 3 times, granted bond while awaiting retrial |publisher=NBC News |date=May 14, 2026}}</ref>

== In popular culture == In 2017, ''Killing Richard Glossip'', a four-part TV series about Glossip's innocence controversy and Oklahoma execution scandal premiered on Investigation Discovery.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/tv-shows/killing-richard-glossip/|title=Killing Richard Glossip {{!}} Watch Full Episodes & More! - Investigation Discovery|website=Investigation Discovery|language=en-us|access-date=April 17, 2017}}</ref>

His case was covered in a ''Dr. Phil'' episode.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 16, 2023 |title=25 Years On Death Row: Richard Glossip Tells Dr. Phil What He's Missed Out On {{!}} Dr. Phil |url=https://www.drphil.com/videos/25-years-on-death-row-richard-glossip-tells-dr-phil-what-hes-missed-out-on/ |access-date=May 19, 2023 |website=www.drphil.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Personal life== In March 2022, he married Lea Rodger of Florida, an anti-death penalty advocate. Lea is Glossip's fourth wife. He also had one common law marriage at the time he was arrested.<ref name="Clay2022">{{Cite news |first=Nolan |last=Clay |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/crime/2022/08/15/death-row-inmate-richard-glossip-wife-says-he-used-her/65402902007/ |title=First prison wife of death row inmate Richard Glossip says he 'used me for financial gain'. |newspaper=The Oklahoman |date=August 15, 2022 |access-date=December 20, 2022}}</ref> He has eaten his "last" meal three times.<ref name="publicradiotulsa.org" />

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20150912043640/http://www.ok.gov/doc/Offenders/Death_Row/ Oklahoma Department of Corrections - Death Row - Scheduled Executions] (accessed September 16, 2015)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Glossip, Richard}} Category:1963 births Category:2015 in American law Category:2015 in Oklahoma Category:Living people Category:People convicted of murder by Oklahoma Category:Place of birth missing (living people) Category:Prisoners sentenced to death by Oklahoma