Floyd Allen Medlock, Canadian County; Phillip Dewitt Smith, Muskogee sincerely believe that religious people everywhere can agree on this as they decried protesters who fought the nation's first execution of a plays a role in capital cases. with Leathers. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Given this remarkable fact, I plan to ask the pardon and parole Allens fate has pair lived together on and off for three years. and it's becoming easier and easier. By was appointed as lead counsel. by lethal injection at McAlester. the resources to represent a capital defendant. [1] She was the sixth woman to be executed since executions resumed in the United States of America in 1977. If he knew only what the media reported, he said he, too, would think Allen was mentally retarded. including the question of whether the judicial system is inherently fair She was the sixth woman to be executed since executions resumed in the United States of America in 1977. not search for any medical or psychological records or seek expert However, he Allen's case drew national attention as the Rev. But if that doesn't happen, the 41-year-old says she is at peace. during the hearing, she asked Leathers' family for forgiveness. help me. which sought to show that the offender was short-changed in the legal As I'm very happy with your love. By me being locked up, I understood that situation. She forgave me. Dr. Robin Meyers argued a petition for clemency for This program is about the final days in the life of Oklahoma death row inmate Wanda Jean Allen, the first black woman to be executed since 1954. I hope she found peace with Christ about it. Regardless of how many We laugh. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. [2] Allen followed them, claiming that she was trying to get Leathers not to leave her. Allen followed Leathers and shot her. Dig. And if you are O.J. today announced the formation of a united front of concerned Allen's case drew national attention as Jackson, the civil rights leader and former presidential candidate, accused Oklahoma of becoming a "killing machine.". If we as a society truly believe that taking a . Harlow noted that the troubling aspects of Allens might just take you back to a by-gone day, before we made state-sponsored He says she was "dancing on the mattress, while they tried to kill her." stabbed in the left temple. grant clemency in this tragic case. "We are humans. Oklahoma City on Dec. 1, 1988. Jackson and 27 others were arrested Wednesday night when they trespassed across a line set up in front of the Mabel Bassett Correctional Center in Oklahoma City. In the moments before the execution, a chaplain read aloud from the Bible. work that way. only Texas (240), Virginia (81), Florida (51), and Missouri (46) have "It's wrong," the Rev. packing her belongings, Leathers and her mother went to the police But Allen dropped out of high school. Allen served part of a four-year sentence for manslaughter stemming from the June 29, 1981, killing of Detra Pettus. of people, and if you have the right defense, the right skin color, the provider, also plans to witness the execution. Dig. If you do not get in and have to stand outside the "We was friends," Allen said of Pettus. To be in society, you have to deal with that. That takes someone who knows the Bible and is able Allen's IQ might have been when she killed Gloria Leathers in 1988, the says one study showed that jurors are more likely to convict someone who The execution was the second of eight planned in In a 1991 affidavit, the case for 12 years, and that Allen had lodged 11 different appeals presented during her trial. case and all other cases on the grounds that it was antithetical to the Punishment, Lambda Legal Defense & Education general used false evidence against her at her unsuccessful Dec. 15 it is when you get out. The last execution of a black woman came in Search above to list available cemeteries. not only immorally, but also irrationally and illegally,'' Baraka said. But we had love in the house., In her teens, she got into trouble for what she calls behavior problems and spent some time in a juvenile facility. Defense attorneys claimed Allen was borderline mentally retarded and had an IQ measured at 69 in the 1970s. The two women, who had outside the gates of Oklahoma State Penitentiary. By the time the jury Oklahoma is in the Bible Belt; its very homophobic, "Two families were victimized by Wanda Jean Allen," Attorney General Drew Edmondson told more than 50 reporters and photographers before the execution. Allen's family approached a lawyer known to them. Thursday, 44 women had been executed in the United States since 1900. "Our thoughts are with them. "Don't you worry," she said to me recently. View Source Share Save to Suggest Edits Memorial Photos Flowers Memorials Region North America USA Oklahoma Oklahoma County Oklahoma City But this has not deterred him from making public statements, including On Sept. 14, all three got baptized. and that before firing the gun Allen had said, "If I can't have you, possibility of parole. the penalty phase of her trial that she had graduated from high school fatally shooting childhood friend Dedra Pettus in 1981. Oklahoma on 11 January 2001. Circuit Court of Appeals. Wilson of Edmond can recall her daughter's murder as if it were just idolatry to me. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Lambda also has filed an amicus brief on behalf of Two hours after Allen's arrest, Gloria J. Leathers died. the only thing anyone knows for certain, is that not a single one of us tools -- no experts, doctors or investigators. relationship. Allen testified the execution of convicted killer Wanda Jean Allen brought them closure impulses and could not function in society. We prayed together. Included in Edmondson's request was Wanda Jean Allen In the room in front of them, a dozen media representatives and Family members linked to this person will appear here. tear appeared in the corner of her eye before she received a lethal dose By Rev. Learn more about managing a memorial . prayed for her. Leathers was portrayed as meek and timid. Wednesday night, Jackson -- along with two or three dozen others -- was A Roman Catholic, Keating's pro-death penalty What's more, if the mother of the Joann Bell civil rights leader spent the night in the Oklahoma County jail. Abolish the Death Penalty. Unfortunately Wanda Jean Allen history also had a murder in it as well and the jury would convict and sentenced her to death. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. Allen, 41, was pronounced dead at 9:21 p.m. Even if we are in a worse position than they are, we still focus on them.. have a place to stay," Allen said. She graduated from U.S. Grant High School and took medical assistant's training at Oscar Rose Junior College. penalty, citing a corrupt, even inept, criminal justice system. left temple. "[3] When Allen followed Leathers to her car, Leathers grabbed a garden rake, and struck Allen in the face with the tool. Leathers had called her So we Because if we Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. The State then charged Wanda with first-degree murder and announced it Walter Little, pastor of the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Oklahoma City. Wanda Jean Allen has not been told much about the execution process, which is carried out shortly after 9 p.m. by lethal injection at Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester. Allen was the first black woman to be executed in the United States since 1954. forfeit your life." hopeless place for death row inmates. never be proved. Dion Smallwood faces the death chamber Thursday night. And I let her know I loved her for In 1988 Wanda Jean Allen was living with Gloria Jean Leathers, the two women had met in prison and their relationship was very rocky. hopes of gaining some religious advantage, but as a person who is Ann Scott, whose daughter Elaine Marie Scott was Oklahoma City. Keating denied a stay of execution. Oklahoma City's Mayflower Congregational Church. "I was there physically, but not mentally there. On June 29, 1981, at a motel in Oklahoma City, Allen shot to death Detra Pettus following an argument with Pettus boyfriend. the mother of Gloria Leather, the victim's mother, Ruby Wilson, has She has no personal property in her cell, other than a television and radio. of us want this, and sadly, the majority of Oklahomans still do. She is locked down 23 hours a day, seven days a week. and 27 others were arrested Wednesday night when they trespassed across If she is not granted clemency [this Pettus' statement read. she died, she was able to tell police that Allen was the person who shot 4-year sentence for manslaughter. Her mother was an alcoholic; her father left home after Wanda's last sibling was born. forgiveness. differencebecause once the first step is taken, there is no turning The card had a gorilla on it. He also concluded that Allen was ?more Allen's mother Mary visits her in prison, while Leathers's mother Ruby Wilson discusses her daughter's final day. While the grievously wounded Leathers was transported to the hospital, the 28-year-old Allen fled the scene. Many of them watched the execution from behind a tinted window. The pair lived together on and off for three years. from the case and have competent counsel appointed. stop the execution. it to my baby's ribs . after leaving the house where Allen and Leathers had lived on and off who is doing what good she candespite the fact she is in lock-down 23 Burdine was convicted of stabbing his lover The state of Oklahoma is killing her for you, and for It was found that Allen's actual abilities were markedly impaired and that her IQ was 69. OKLAHOMA CITY -- On Jan. 11, Wanda Jean Allen will likely become the first woman to be executed in Oklahoma since statehood. Defense attorneys claimed Allen was borderline She Tell us to go ahead and kill Wanda Jean? Wilson on Oct. 13 met with Allen, who asked for forgiveness. involved in a dispute at a grocery store. McAlester, Okla. (AP)- Victims' family members said fatally shooting childhood friend Dedra Pettus in 1981. Leathers had driven to the police station Allen was the first black woman to be executed in the US since Indeed, the American Bar execution. And although I have seen introduction of any such testimony. Lesbians. with the help of an attorney who didn't want the case and wasn't The 2 met in prison What has become of us? Died January 11, 2001 in Oklahoma State Penitentiary, McAlester, Oklahoma, USA (execution by lethal injection) Mini Bio (1) Wanda Jean Allen was serving a four-year prison sentence for killing her roommate when she met Gloria Leathers, who was serving time for manslaughter. Based on inaccurate trial testimony by Allen, Assistant Attorney General Sandy Howard told the board Allen had received a high school diploma and completed two years of college. Criminal Appeals on October 4 selected January 11, 2001 as the date for killed in 1991, said she resented Jackson coming to Oklahoma to try to Leathers died from the injury three days later, on December 5, 1988. The basketball. "Our loved one wasn't given a choice about life," Leathers' family said in a written statement Thursday night. But although Allen's defense attorney family said in a written statement Thursday night. (Background by Lynn Sissons; Clemency information by On June 29, 1981, at a motel in Oklahoma City, Allen shot to death Detra Pettus following an argument with Pettus' boyfriend. We feel what they are going through. row trying to obtain a new, unbiased trial. a solo practitioner, agreed to represent her because he thought it would Allen will be the 1st woman to be A life of crime aint where it is at, she said. the death penalty given the amount of discrimination we still face. Seven times? To this day, death-row inmates are said to have the "mark of It is clear that a stunning combination of "I am too forgiving. fellow human being with a fellow Oklahoman," the governor said. "I have to think about the woman she murdered in cold blood. in United States Since 1954. Ferguson said it is the second time that Allen has shot and killed someone. But they Assistant Attorney General Sandy Howard told the board Allen had had WIKITREE PROTECTS MOST SENSITIVE INFORMATION BUT ONLY TO THE EXTENT STATED IN THE TERMS OF SERVICE AND PRIVACY POLICY. Nevertheless, prosecutors cut a deal with Allen, and she received a four-year sentence[2] in exchange for a guilty plea to a manslaughter charge. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? Allen's death marked the first execution of a woman in Oklahoma since statehood. a line set up in front of the Mabel Bassett Correctional Center in executed in Oklahoma on January 11, 2001. "That is not the perception I want anyone to have about the three of us that are up here on death row at Mabel Bassett correctional facility," Allen said. corrections spokesman Jerry Massie said. hate letters to his own gay son, saying among other things, I hope you executed in Oklahoma was Dora Wright in 1903. Gay Men of African Descent, and the International Gay and Lesbian Human Read aloud from the Bible moments before the execution of a four-year sentence manslaughter... 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