Oklahoma Governor Grants Clemency to Death Row Inmate Tremane Wood

Thu Nov 13 2025 21:10:26 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has commuted the death sentence of Tremane Wood to life without parole, marking only the second time he has granted clemency during his tenure. The decision has drawn mixed reactions, especially from the state attorney general.

Oklahoma's Governor Kevin Stitt has spared the life of Tremane Wood, commuting his death sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole, just as Wood was about to be executed. This is only the second clemency decision Stitt has made in his nearly seven years in office, prompting significant reactions from various parties, including the state's Attorney General Gentner Drummond. Wood was sentenced for the stabbing death of Ronnie Wipf during a robbery in 2002, an incident closely scrutinized over the years, with claims of a flawed trial process.

In a significant move, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has recently commuted the death sentence of Tremane Wood, shifting his fate from imminent execution to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. This decision comes just moments before Wood was scheduled for lethal injection, marking Stitt's second clemency act during his nearly seven years in office.

Governor Stitt cited a thorough review and the recommendations of the Pardon and Parole Board in his decision. This action reflects the same punishment his brother received for their murder of an innocent young man, stated Stitt, maintaining the need for severe penalties to keep violent offenders from society.

Wood, 46, was sentenced to death for his role in the stabbing death of Ronnie Wipf, a 19-year-old migrant farmworker, during a botched robbery in 2002. The governor's decision has drawn mixed reactions, including disappointment from Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who expressed concerns about the implications of clemency for such serious offenses.

Drummond acknowledged the weight of the governor's decision but underscored the importance of accountability in such cases. Meanwhile, Wood's attorney, Amanda Bass Castro Alves, expressed gratitude for the decision, emphasizing the support from Wipf's family for clemency.

Throughout the clemency proceedings, Wood's attorneys argued that his role in the crime did not include the actual killing, pointing to his brother, Zjaiton Wood, who was already sentenced to life without parole and admitted to the murder before his death in prison in 2019.

The Pardon and Parole Board had recommended clemency in a narrow 3-2 vote, revealing the contentious nature of capital punishment decisions in the state. While supporters view this as a chance for redemption and justice, critics remain concerned about the implications for crime victims and their families.

As Tremane Wood begins a new chapter in a life sentence, the case continues to unravel questions surrounding justice, accountability, and the efficacy of Oklahoma's death penalty system.