Oklahoma Governor Grants Clemency to Tremane Wood, Commuting Death Sentence to Life in Prison

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In a significant move, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has granted clemency to Tremane Wood, commuting his death sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole. This decision comes after the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board's narrow 3-2 vote in favor of recommending clemency last week. Wood, 46, was convicted in 2004 of first-degree felony murder for the stabbing of 19-year-old Ronnie Wipf, a migrant farm worker from Montana, during a botched robbery at a motel in Oklahoma City in 2002. His older brother, Zjaiton "Jake" Wood, who admitted to fatally stabbing Wipf, received a life-without-parole sentence and died in prison in 2019. Wood's attorneys argued that his trial was marred by constitutional flaws, including a trial lawyer struggling with addiction and failing to relay proper instructions to the jury, as well as prosecutors not disclosing benefits given to the key witness. The Pardon and Parole Board agreed, stating that Wood's original trial was not fair and just. However, the state's case highlighted Wood's involvement in criminal behavior while incarcerated, including using contraband cellphones, distributing drugs, and ordering violent attacks on other inmates. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond criticized the clemency decision, saying that Wood is a "dangerous murderer" who should remain behind bars. Despite this, the victim's family and the surviving victim, Arnold Kleinsasser, supported the clemency recommendation, expressing opposition to Wood's execution. Under the terms of the commutation, Wood will serve life without the possibility of parole and is barred from applying for any future pardon or commutation. This decision marks the second time Governor Stitt has granted clemency in his nearly seven years as governor, following the commutation of Julius Jones' death sentence in 2021. The move has sparked controversy, particularly in light of a recent plea deal granted to Jesse Butler, an 18-year-old facing 78 years in prison for rape and murder allegations, who was instead given community service and counseling.