Episode 18 - Oklahoma v. John Fitzgerald Hanson - Feds Block Execution

Based in Fact

Kyle and Lisa look at State of Oklahoma v. John Fitzgerald Hanson. Hanson was facing execution on December 15, 2022 for the 1999 murder of Mary Bowles. Hanson and his partner, Victor Miller, kidnapped Mary from a Tulsa mall on August 31, 1999. They brought her to a dirt pit in Owasso, where they encountered the owner, Jerald Thurman. Miller shot Mr. Thurman, then Hanson took Mary from the car and shot her to death as she lay in a ditch. We’ll talk about the case against Hanson, his trial, direct appeal, resentencing trial, 2nd direct appeal, post-conviction claims and the life sentence in federal prison. In keeping with the current administration’s stance against the death penalty, Bureau of Prison officials denied Oklahoma’s transfer request. The federal officials’ decision to act outside their legal authority has prevented the State of Oklahoma from carrying out Hanson’s lawfully imposed sentence.

Audio Editor: Emily Walker