OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH, Nov. 17, 2021) — The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted to recommend clemency for the 79-year-old death row inmate Bigler Stouffer on Wednesday.

The board recommended Stouffer’s sentence be commuted to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The Office of the Oklahoma Attorney General issued a statement regarding the Pardon and Parole Board’s clemency recommendation for Bigler Stouffer, voicing their disappointment of the Board’s decision. The office voices they believe the Board’s decision was improperly based on whether or not an inmate will suffer pain during execution, saying this concern is not for the Board, rather it should be a concern of the courts.

“The courts, in declining to grant a stay of execution for other death row inmates, have spoken. The execution of Mr. Stouffer should proceed,” the AG’s office said. “The decision, however, is now in the hands of the Governor. I will continue to make the safety of the citizens of Oklahoma a top priority of this office and will continue to advocate for the victims of this horrific crime as well as all victims of all violent crimes.”

Don Heath, Chair of the Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty responded with the following statement:

“The Coalition applauds the Pardon and Parole Board for voting 3-2 today to grant clemency to B. J. Stouffer. The Coalition calls on Gov. Stitt to end this madness and stay the six remaining executions until a decision in the federal case is rendered.”

Stouffer was convicted in the 1985 murder of Putnam City school teacher Linda Reaves and sentenced to death the same year.

Stouffer is scheduled to be executed on December 9 at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has the final say in Stouffer’s fate.

Read the original article here.

Tags: Bigler Stouffer, clemency, death penalty, OK Pardon and Parole Board