Oklahoma Readies Execution of Man Transferred from Federal Custody Under Trump Administration

Oklahoma is preparing to carry out the execution of John Fitzgerald Hanson on Thursday at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester. The 61-year-old man was sentenced to death for the carjacking, kidnapping, and murder of Mary Bowles in Tulsa back in 1999.

Though his case has gained attention, it is essential to note that he previously served a life sentence in a federal prison in Louisiana for unrelated convictions. His transfer to state custody was expedited by federal officials in March, acting on an executive order from former President Donald Trump to bolster the enforcement of the death penalty.

In a last-ditch effort to stop the execution, Hanson’s attorneys raised concerns about the clemency hearing he received last month. They argued that one board member, who denied him clemency, had a conflict of interest due to their previous involvement with the Tulsa County District Attorney’s Office.

Although a district court judge temporarily halted the execution, an appeals court later allowed it to proceed. The U.S. Supreme Court also rejected a separate appeal regarding alleged misconduct from a key witness during the trial.

Prosecutors assert that Hanson, along with accomplice Victor Miller, kidnapped Bowles at a Tulsa mall, drove her to a gravel pit where Miller killed the property owner, and subsequently murdered Bowles. Miller is serving a life sentence without parole for his role in the crimes.

During his clemency hearing, Hanson expressed remorse for his actions and apologized to the families of the victims, stating, “I’m not an evil person. I was caught in a situation I couldn’t control.” His defense portrayed him as a troubled individual with autism who was under the influence of a dominant accomplice, insisting that there was no definitive proof he directly killed Bowles.