Oklahoma executes man amid week of multiple U.S. executions

Oklahoma carried out its first execution of the year on Thursday, putting Wendell Grissom to death for the 2005 murder of Amber Matthews during a home invasion.

Grissom’s execution by lethal injection at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary was one of four executions across the United States this week, with Arizona, Louisiana, and Florida also resuming capital punishment.

As Oklahoma continues to face scrutiny over its execution protocols, the state remains one of the few that still administers lethal injections amid growing national debates over the death penalty.

Oklahoma Execution: Wendell Grissom

Oklahoma executed Wendell Grissom on Thursday at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester for the 2005 murder of Amber Matthews during a home invasion and robbery. Grissom, 56, was pronounced dead at 10:13 a.m. following a lethal injection. This was Oklahoma’s first execution of the year and the ninth in the United States.

Wendell Grissom Execution: Oklahoma attorney general, attorneys release statements

Grissom and his co-defendant, Jessie Floyd Johns, invaded the Blaine County home of Dreu Kopf, where Matthews was visiting with her two young children. Matthews was shot twice in the head and died later at an Oklahoma City hospital. Kopf, who was also shot twice, managed to escape and get help. Johns received a life sentence without parole.

Grissom apologized to the victims' families before his death, expressing remorse for his actions. Prosecutors described Grissom's crimes as random and brutal, making his case a "textbook" death penalty situation.

Arizona Execution: Aaron Gunches

On Wednesday, Arizona executed Aaron Gunches, 53, for the 2002 murder of Ted Price, his girlfriend's ex-husband. Gunches, who had dropped legal efforts to stop his execution, was declared dead at 10:33 a.m. after receiving a lethal injection at the state prison in Florence.

Gunches was the first person executed in Arizona since 2022 after the state paused executions due to previous issues with administering lethal injections.

Louisiana Execution: Jessie Hoffman

Louisiana resumed executions for the first time in 15 years by executing Jessie Hoffman on Tuesday using nitrogen gas. Hoffman, 46, was convicted of the 1996 rape and murder of Molly Elliott, a 28-year-old advertising executive. He was the first person in Louisiana to be executed by nitrogen gas and the seventh execution overall in the United States this year.

Hoffman’s attorneys argued that the method, which involves pumping nitrogen gas through a facemask, was unconstitutional and violated his religious beliefs. However, Louisiana officials defended the procedure, saying it was painless.

Florida Execution: Edward James

On Thursday evening, Florida will execute Edward James, 63, for the 1993 murders of 8-year-old Toni Neuner and her grandmother, Betty Dick. James, who had been renting a room in Dick’s house, raped and strangled Neuner and stabbed Dick 21 times before fleeing. He was later arrested in California.

James’ execution will be carried out by lethal injection at Florida State Prison. His final appeals were denied by the U.S. Supreme Court earlier the same day.