No Mercy for Death Row Inmate: Oklahoma denies clemency for convicted killer

The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board (PPB) denied clemency for death row inmate Wendell Arden Grissom on Tuesday, clearing the final hurdle before his scheduled execution on March 20, 2025. Grissom, 56, has spent 17 years on death row at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary for the 2005 murder of Amber Matthews during a violent home invasion in Blaine County. The board's decision seals Grissom's fate following years of appeals associated with capital punishment.

“Grissom’s murder of Amber epitomizes a truly senseless murder,” Attorney General Gentner Drummond and staff stated in paperwork submitted to the board.

Grissom was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death.  The crime, described in court as both random and brutal, occurred when Grissom and a hitchhiker targeted a random home near Watonga, which they selected at random.

Trial transcripts detail Grissom’s demeanor during the violent attack. “He [Grissom] was just laughing, and he just kept shooting and shooting and laughing,” according to the record.  The laughter was described as he shot Dreu Kopf, who survived multiple gunshot wounds. Kopf was shot in the hand, shoulder, and hip before managing to run from the home. Kopf hoped Grissom would follow her out of the home and prevent him from turning the gun on her 19-month-old and 5-week-old daughters. Still, inside the house, Amber Matthews, Kopf's best friend, was shot and killed while shielding the babies, both of whom survived the attack. 

REMEMBERING THE VICTIM:

 Amber Dawn Matthews, 23, was pursuing a nursing career when her life was cut short. Remembered as "sweet, kind, and loving," she "brought joy to everyone she met."

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Her father, Garry Matthews, poured his heartbreak into a victim impact letter before Grissom's trial, writing, "The impact that this has had on me is almost impossible to explain, what was taken from me words cannot describe. At trial, a family member read his letter to the court because it was too painful for him to read aloud, “My daughter was taken from me, someone who I loved, more than myself and life itself." Garry described Amber as the "apple of my eye, a cute blonde, blue-eyed little bundle of joy" who was not just his daughter but his best friend. In the state's packet, submitted to the PPB, protesting clemency for Matthews’ killer, Assistant Attorneys General Jennifer Crabb and Tessa Henry explained the father’s ongoing pain and suffering, “Mr. Matthews has found it too painful to write another letter.” So many people loved Amber and miss her to this day. More than a dozen letters were sent to the PPB, sharing the lasting impact of Matthews’ murder.

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Surviving victim Dreu Kopf recalled the physical and emotional toll: "I had to learn how to hold my daughter [redacted] with one hand and explain to my other daughter [redacted] that momma was hurt and could not hold her." Kopf explained the attack's long-lasting impact: "I tell myself every morning, ‘Do not be afraid, I will reclaim my life someday!’”

BACKGROUND:

Inmate Information:

1. Name: Wendell Arden Grissom
2. DOC Number: 0575281
3. Date of Birth: 10/11/1968 (56 years old)
4. Facility: Oklahoma State Penitentiary, Maximum Security
5. Reception Date: 06/30/2008 (Age at reception: 39)
6. Execution: March 20, 2025

Criminal History & Convictions:

1. Current Offense:
2. Murder I (Death Sentence) – Blaine County Case CF 2005-80
3. Other Charges (Consecutive Sentences):
4. Shooting with Intent to Kill: Life sentence
5. Larceny of Motor Vehicle: 25 years (modified from Grand Larceny)
6. Possessing a Firearm After Former Conviction of a Felony: 40 years

Details of the Offense:

1. Involved in a violent home invasion in Blaine County, Oklahoma, in 2005.

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1. Grissom and a hitchhiker planned a robbery at a home near Watonga.
2. Grissom selected the home at random and did not know anyone inside.
3. Dreu Kopf was inside the home with her 19-month-old and 5-week-old daughters.
4. Grissom shot Kopf in the hand, shoulder, and hip as she fought for her life.
5. “He [Grissom]was just laughing, and he just kept shooting and shooting and laughing,” according to trial transcripts
6. Kopf’s best friend, Amber Matthews, ran to hide in a nearby room with the children .
7. Kopf managed to escape, running from the house, hoping Grissom would follow.
8. Grissom didn’t follow; Kopf heard Matthews scream, “Please don’t shoot me,” then two gunshots.
9. Dreu saw Grissom’s truck parked facing the road for a quick getaway.
10. Kopf assumed he killed her children, and Matthews, both children survived the home invasion.
11. Grissom was arrested in a field not too far from the crime scene.

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1. He confessed to the shootings and showed police where he discarded a firearm.

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Prior Criminal Record:

1. Multiple burglary convictions in Texas dating back to 1990.
2. History of parole violations and revocations.
3. Served time for burglary of habitation and burglary of a vehicle.
4. Incomplete documentation on the final disposition of some sentences.

Institutional Behavior:

1. Transferred to Oklahoma State Penitentiary on 06/03/2008.
2. On death row for 17 years.
3. No violent or security-related misconduct documented during incarceration.
4. He declined to share his version of events with DOC investigators.

Parole and Clemency:

1. Parole Eligibility: Not applicable due to the death sentence.
2. Clemency Consideration: Denied on February 5, 2025.

Other Relevant Information:

1. History of substance abuse and mental health concerns not detailed.
2. No documented participation in rehabilitation programs.
3. Limited personal and family background information provided to DOC.
4. Denies that his criminal behavior is related to his personal or family history.

CLEMENCY DENIED:

Attorney General Gentner Drummond commended the board for rejecting clemency for Wendell Arden Grissom. 

“Amber died at the hands of a cruel and evil man. Today, however, his fate is sealed with the denial of clemency. I am grateful to the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board for this decision,” Drummond said. “In a state where we cherish the sanctity of our homes and the safety of our loved ones, justice demands nothing less than the ultimate price for those who violently tear apart the very fabric of our community.”

Grissom’s execution is scheduled for March 20 at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary.