State of Missouri Executes Inmate for Murder of Journalist
- National FOF Staff
Categories: Death Penalty , Execution , Legal Appeals , Missouri , Wrongful Conviction
Jefferson City, MO – Marcellus Williams, convicted of the 1998 murder of journalist Felicia Gayle, was executed by the state of Missouri on September 24, 2024. The execution took place at the Bonne Terre Correctional Center.
Williams was convicted of the 1998 murder of Felicia Gayle in St. Louis, Missouri. Gayle, a 42 year old reporter of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, was found murdered in her apartment with 43 stab and cut wounds.
Williams had maintained his innocence throughout his time in prison, claiming that he was wrongfully convicted. Despite numerous appeals and legal challenges, the Missouri Supreme Court upheld his sentence.
The execution drew significant public attention. Many advocates were calling for a stay of execution due to doubts about the reliability of the evidence presented at his trial. However, the state of Missouri proceeded with the execution.
Williams is the 3rd person executed in Missouri this year, and the 15th inmate executed in the United States in 2024.