Only woman on Georgia’s death row set to be executed today for her role in the 1997 murder of her husband,after Clemency Denied.
Kelly Gissendaner, who was convicted for plotting the murder of her husband, could become the first woman to be executed in the state since 1945.
The
State Board of Pardons and Paroles denied clemency to Kelly
Gissendaner.
The Supreme Court denied
her appeal in October 2014, and she concluded all her direct
appeal proceedings.
Gissendaner had a clemency hearing before the State Board of Pardons and Paroles on Tuesday.
Gissendaner had a clemency hearing before the State Board of Pardons and Paroles on Tuesday.
She also sought clemency
on grounds of her “positive impact” within and outside the
prison and that she had shown a “commitment to redemption
through spiritual growth.”
Her application said that her children, who were “irreparably harmed” by their father’s murder would be further harmed by their mother’s execution.
Her petition also said that she was the only one sentenced to death for her role in the murder despite the fact that her co defendant was sentenced to life and was eligible to seek parole in eight years.
Her application said that her children, who were “irreparably harmed” by their father’s murder would be further harmed by their mother’s execution.
Her petition also said that she was the only one sentenced to death for her role in the murder despite the fact that her co defendant was sentenced to life and was eligible to seek parole in eight years.
Gissendaner was sentenced to death in 1998 for plotting the death of her husband, Douglas Gissendaner, with her boyfriend.
Gissendaner has requested her last meal to consist of two Whoppers with cheese, cornbread, side of buttermilk, two large orders of french fries, cherry vanilla ice cream, popcorn, salad with a cheese and buttermilk dressing, and lemonade.
She was convicted of malice
murder for coaxing her boyfriend, Gregory Owen, to kill Douglas for
his insurance money and to get rid of him, according
to court documents.
On Feb. 7, 1997, Gissendaner drove Owen to her house, gave him a nightstick and a hunting knife to kill her husband and then went to a nightclub with some friends. When Douglas arrived at his home, Owen ambushed him with the knife and drove him to a deserted location.
There, Owen struck Douglas at the back of the head with the nightstick and then stabbed him repeatedly in the back and neck. He took Douglas’ watch and wedding ring to make it look like a robbery, as per Gissandaner’s instructions.
She later arrived at the woods to make sure her husband was dead. Owen then set fire to Douglas’ car with a can of kerosene Gissendaner brought with her.
She reported her husband missing to the police the next day and appeared on television news asking for information on him. Douglas’ body was found nearly two weeks after the murder and his remains were ravaged by animals.
Gissendaner was arrested on Feb. 25 after Owen confessed his involvement in the murder and implicated her.
Owen agreed to testify against Gissendaner and received a life sentence. Gissendaner refused to accept the state’s offer of life with no parole for 25 years and insisted on her right to a jury trial. She was found guilty and sentenced to death.
On Feb. 7, 1997, Gissendaner drove Owen to her house, gave him a nightstick and a hunting knife to kill her husband and then went to a nightclub with some friends. When Douglas arrived at his home, Owen ambushed him with the knife and drove him to a deserted location.
There, Owen struck Douglas at the back of the head with the nightstick and then stabbed him repeatedly in the back and neck. He took Douglas’ watch and wedding ring to make it look like a robbery, as per Gissandaner’s instructions.
She later arrived at the woods to make sure her husband was dead. Owen then set fire to Douglas’ car with a can of kerosene Gissendaner brought with her.
She reported her husband missing to the police the next day and appeared on television news asking for information on him. Douglas’ body was found nearly two weeks after the murder and his remains were ravaged by animals.
Gissendaner was arrested on Feb. 25 after Owen confessed his involvement in the murder and implicated her.
Owen agreed to testify against Gissendaner and received a life sentence. Gissendaner refused to accept the state’s offer of life with no parole for 25 years and insisted on her right to a jury trial. She was found guilty and sentenced to death.
