Executions In Oklahoma To Be Scheduled After Supreme Court Ruling

Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt said the Supreme Court's ruling Monday to side with the state's lethal injection decision was a victory for victims.

Monday, June 29th 2015, 9:28 pm

By: News 9


Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt said the Supreme Court's ruling Monday to side with the state's lethal injection decision was a victory for victims.

By now, Pruitt said Barry Van Treese's family and the other victims have waited a combined 48 years for justice to be served.

Ken Van Treese lost his brother, Barry, almost two decades ago.

“I get pretty upset about this whole deal,” he said.

And Barry's wife, Donna, was forced to raise their kids alone.

“Their dad got stolen from them. And no child should ever have to be told that their dad's never coming home again,” she told News 9.

But after Monday's Supreme Court ruling that the state of Oklahoma can lawfully use the drug Midazolam in its three-drug protocol to kill the inmates on death row, they are both closer to justice.

“There's anger that you want it to be over with. You want this part to be finished. You want to be able to take a breath and to carry on knowing that justice has been served,” Donna said.

“You live with the consequences of your actions. And the death penalty in Oklahoma is the consequence of taking somebody else's life,” Ken added.

Those consequences are now in the cards for Richard Glossip, the man convicted of the 1997 murder of Barry Van Treese.

Nancy Norville, a friend of Glossip, said he was hopeful about the outcome of today, but she said the decision is devastating.

“I was pretty upset. I cried. I have to say, I cried. I just can't see civilized people going on with this. That's what really gets me down,” Norville said.

Like Glossip, Norville is adamant he is innocent. And said she will continue fight for him.

“I'm not trying to garner sympathy for the offender but I'm looking at Richard, who is innocent. But even the ones that are not innocent. Who are we to be doing that kind of thing? You know, it's barbaric,” she added.

Back in March, the state attorney general received a letter from the company that manufactured Midazolam. The letter asked the state to send its supply back.

But the Department of Corrections said Monday it has access to the drugs necessary to carry out the next three executions.

Those are in the process of being scheduled.

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