In a case that has drawn national attention and widespread outcry, Marcellus Williams, 55, was executed by the State of Missouri on September 24, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. CST, despite DNA evidence that never linked him to the 1998 murder for which he was convicted. Williams’ case has become emblematic of the flaws in the justice system, raising questions about the role of forensic evidence, wrongful convictions, and the death penalty.
Williams, who had a prior criminal record for robbery, was convicted in 2001 for the brutal murder of former St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter Felicia Gayle. Gayle, 42, was stabbed 43 times with a butcher knife in her St. Louis home on August 11, 1998. The sheer brutality of the crime, labeled as an “overkill” by experts due to the excessive number of wounds, is typically associated with personal relationships between the victim and the attacker. However, there was no evidence to suggest any connection between Gayle and Williams.
Key evidence in the case came from testimony provided by Williams’ former cellmate and ex-girlfriend, both of whom had financial incentives tied to their statements. Despite this, Williams was convicted and sentenced to death. The Innocence Project, a nonprofit legal organization that advocates for the wrongfully convicted, took up Williams’ case in 2015, citing the lack of forensic evidence linking him to the crime scene.
DNA Evidence Ignored
None of the DNA found at the crime scene, including the murder weapon, matched Williams. In 2016, a court-appointed special master confirmed that Williams’ DNA was not present on any critical evidence. However, despite this finding, the special master failed to issue a formal recommendation to vacate the conviction, and Missouri’s Supreme Court did not review the evidence, allowing the execution date to be set.
Williams’ execution was stayed twice before, once in 2015 by the Missouri Supreme Court and again in 2017 by then-Governor Eric Greitens, who convened a Board of Inquiry to investigate the DNA evidence further. The board, led by a Black woman, was still conducting its investigation when current Governor Mike Parson abruptly dissolved it in June 2023. This move was criticized as unlawful, as Missouri law mandates that a stay of execution remains in place until the board completes its review.
Political Controversy and Legal Battles
In 2024, as pressure mounted, St. Louis District Attorney Wesley Bell, who had recently been elected to Congress, joined the defense and others, including Representative Cori Bush, in calling for the conviction to be vacated based on the DNA evidence. A last-minute deal was struck in August that would have allowed Williams to enter an Alford plea, where he could maintain his innocence while conceding the state had enough evidence to convict. In exchange, his sentence would be reduced to life without parole. However, this plea was ultimately rejected, and the execution date was set.
Governor Parson’s actions drew sharp criticism from legal experts and human rights organizations. The New York Times reported that Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey had a history of opposing wrongful conviction claims, including those where prisoners had been declared innocent by judges. Williams’ legal team filed a lawsuit against Parson for dissolving the Board of Inquiry, but Missouri’s Supreme Court dismissed the case, clearing the way for the execution.
The Legacy of Marcellus Williams’ Case
Marcellus Williams’ case has become a stark example of the challenges faced by individuals on death row, particularly in cases involving racial disparities and questionable evidence. Williams, a Black man, consistently proclaimed his innocence throughout his incarceration. His execution adds to a troubling pattern: The Innocence Project has reported that more than 60% of the wrongfully convicted people it has helped exonerate are Black, a rate far exceeding their proportion of the U.S. population.
As the state of Missouri moves forward after Williams’ execution, many are left grappling with questions about the role of DNA evidence in capital punishment cases and the systemic flaws that allow potential miscarriages of justice to occur.
The case is expected to spark further debates on the future of the death penalty in America, as well as the accountability of state officials in ensuring that justice is not only done but seen to be done.
STORY BY: EUNICE ADJEI
SOURCE: newsone.com