Report Could Shed New Light on Oklahoma Death Row Inmate's Murder Case

By Rusty Surette, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A new report this week may shed more light on a murder case that's placed an Oklahoma man on death row.

According to a letter written to Governor Brad Henry's office from the Attorney General's Office, tests on a set of unidentified fingerprints found at the crime scene of a 1994 McClain County murder may be completed as soon as this week.

Earl Short was shot and killed in a burglary. His great nephew, Jeffrey Matthews, was convicted of the crime and is currently sitting on death row.

Matthews has received two stays of execution from Governor Henry after the missing set of finger prints were recently discovered in a lab at the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations. His new execution date is August 17.

Rick Sitzman was the prosecuting attorney in Matthews' trial. He said the mysterious fingerprints are worth looking at, but they'll do little to change Matthews' fate.  He said Matthews, who confessed to playing a role in the crime, will still be considered a killer.

"Because if he was there and he participated under an accomplice theory, a co-conspirator theory, he would still be held responsible for the murder," Sitzman said.

Sitzman said it'll likely take a third person to step up and confess to shooting and killing Earl Short, and then Matthews face only a re-sentencing, not another trial.

More: Fingerprint Evidence to Determine Fate of Death Row Inmate