Richard Glossip

The state of Oklahoma is scheduled to execute Richard Glossip at Oklahoma State Penitentiary Wednesday afternoon, but Glossip’s defense team contends it has uncovered new evidence about a witness in the case that should lead authorities to halt the execution.

Glossip, 52, has famous advocates on his side who many Oklahomans may recognize — like long-time Oklahoma University football coach Barry Switzer, actress Susan Sarandon and former United States Sen. Tom Coburn. Dr. Phil McGraw, of the syndicated television show “Dr.Phil,” recently dedicated a full-hour of his show to Sarandon and well known anti-death penalty advocate Sister Helen Prejean so they could discuss the circumstances around Glossip’s murder-conviction and pending execution. 

But there are no indications at this point that any of that advocacy will stop Glossip’s execution. Two different juries determined Glossip should die, and four appeal courts confirmed that sentence for Glossip in the murder of Barry Van Treese in 1997. Gov. Mary Fallin has said she does not plan to intervene. 

Oklahoma Department of Corrections spokesperson Terri Watkins said the department is prepared to carry out the execution as planned. She said only five media members will be allowed to witness the execution, and the state has in its possession the necessary drugs to carry out the death sentence. 

“We plan to follow the protocol,” Watkins said.

Glossip was convicted of paying a man named Justin Sneed in a murder-for-hire plot to kill Van Treese in Oklahoma City. Sneed received life without parole after testifying against Glossip, telling authorities Glossip was the mastermind behind the assault. 

Van Treese was a father of seven children. 

Prejean and defense attorney Don Knight, of Colorado, delivered a petition with more than 100,000 online signatures asking Gov. Fallin to stay the execution and allow Knight and other investigators more time to try and find new evidence.

The defense team held a press conference in Oklahoma City Monday morning, citing new testimony from a drug dealer who said Sneed was a methamphetamine addict at the time of the murder. The defense contends this addiction means Sneed’s word cannot be believed. 

Knight said Richard Barrett told him he sold meth to Sneed in the late 1990s.

“I believe Justin Sneed was addicted to methamphetamine in a bad way,” a newly released affidavit states. “Methamphetamine is a very addictive drug.”

Barrett said it was well-known Sneed would break into cars and motel rooms looking for cash to feed his addiction. 

A press release sent to media by the Glossip camp says Glossip should not be executed based on the sole testimony of an addict. 

“Sneed – a tweaking drug addict who, on his own and for his own selfish need for drug money, routinely broke into occupied motel rooms (like Mr. Van Treese’s) using his access as the maintenance man at the Best Budget Inn, and cars that were in the parking lot of the Best Budget Inn (like Mr. Van Treese’s) to steal people’s property to sustain his drug habit – eventually provided the only evidence against Mr. Glossip,” the release states. 

The family of Barry Van Treese has made it clear they feel the death penalty for Glossip is warranted.  

Van Treese’s sister, Alana Mileto, said in a statement sent to the Tulsa World she feels justice will be served when Glossip is executed.

“Over these many years our family has endured all manner of pain as a result of the death of Barry,” Mileto said. “The Van Treese family knows with absolute certainty the State of Oklahoma has provided the opportunity for justice to be served in this case. … We have a right as a family and as citizens of the United States of America to expect justice to be served.”

Gary Ackley recently retired from the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office and was the second chair prosecutor in Glossip’s second trial. Ackley told the News-Capital in January he believed Glossip was clearly responsible for Treese’s death and capital punishment is the correct outcome. 

“I put my reputation and my name behind the case,” Ackley said. “I do believe Glossip got a fair trial, that he was guilty, and deserves to have his sentence carried out.”

Fallin has said she believes Glossip is guilty of murder and does not plan to intervene. She could issue a 60-day stay if she feels it is warranted. A federal appeals court is likely to review the “new evidence” Glossip’s camp exhibited Monday and will determine if his execution should be stayed. 

Contact Parker Perry at pperry@mcalesternews.com