Death – Ponca City Now

Facebook Babysitter Convicted in Kay County Child Abuse Case, Now Charged With Murder in 2018 Infant’s Death

Wednesday, June 18 by KOKH

OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) —A babysitter convicted of child abuse in 2024 has now been charged with an infant's murder from a case stemming back to 2018.Holly Sheppard was arrested by Oklahoma County Sheriff's deputies on Monday.She's charged with one count of murder. In January 2018, Oklahoma City Police investigators say a 22-day-old infant went... Read More.

State of Oklahoma executes Death Row inmate John Hanson

Thursday, June 12 by News 9

Oklahoma death row inmate John Hanson was executed by lethal injection at 10:11 a.m. with no complications.Attorney General Gentner Drummond said in a statement: "Today, justice was finally served for Mary Bowles and Jerald Thurman. After more than 25 years of waiting, the killer who brutally took these two precious lives has paid the... Read More.

State will not seek death penalty in new trial for Richard Glossip

Tuesday, June 10 by News 6

Richard Glossip, the Oklahoma death row inmate who was granted a new trial by the U.S. Supreme Court, was back in court Monday as the case against him officially restarted.State prosecutors have announced they plan to move forward with a new trial but will no longer seek the death penalty.Glossip, who has maintained his... Read More.

Oklahoma Senate Passes Bill Making Death Penalty an Option for First-Time Child Rapists

Monday, April 7 by News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -A bill that would make the death penalty or life without parole a possible punishment for first-time convictions of child sex abuse has passed the Oklahoma Senate with bipartisan support.Current Law Current state law allows those convicted of certain sex crimes against children under 14 to be sentenced to death or life... Read More.

PCPD Investigating Recent Death in Ponca City

Monday, March 31 by Ponca City-PCPD

On the evening of March 30th, Ponca City Police and Ponca City EMS responded to the 300 block of south Lake Street for an unresponsive male. Upon arrival at the scene, Officers found 62 year old Robert Gibbs inside his residence and he was suffering from a gunshot wound. Gibbs was pronounced dead at the... Read More.

Oklahoma Set to Execute Death Row Prisoner Wendell Grissom

Thursday, March 20 by News 6

McAlester, Okla. -The State of Oklahoma is set to carry out its first execution of 2025, with death row prisoner Wendell Arden Grissom scheduled to be put to death Thursday morning.MORE: Oklahoma denies clemency for convicted killer, death row inmateGrissom has been on death row for nearly 17 years for the random... Read More.

Norman Police Investigate Death of OU Rugby Player

Monday, March 10 by News 9

NORMAN, Okla. -The Norman Police Department says it is investigating the death of a University of Oklahoma rugby player.OU confirmed Joe Pal’s death on social media Friday, saying, “Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of a of beloved teammate, friend, and member of our rugby family. Joe, your passion, strength and spirit will... Read More.

Convicted Killer Transferred to Oklahoma From Louisiana to Face Death Sentence

Tuesday, March 4 by Ponca City Now

OKLAHOMA CITY — Convicted murderer George John Hanson is back in Oklahoma custody for his death sentence to be carried out later this year. The state Department of Corrections transferred the inmate late yesterday from a Louisiana federal prison to Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester at the request of Attorney General Gentner Drummond.Hanson, also... Read More.

Supreme Court Throws Out Oklahoma Man’s Murder Conviction and Death Sentence

Wednesday, February 26 by AP

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Tuesday threw out the murder conviction and death penalty for Richard Glossip, an Oklahoma man who has steadfastly maintained his innocence and averted multiple attempts by the state to execute him.The justices found that Glossip's trial violated his constitutional rights.The justices heard arguments in October in a case... Read More.

Oklahoma wants federal inmate transferred so he can be put to death

Saturday, January 25 by The Associated Press

By SEAN MURPHY Associated PressOKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma's top prosecutor asked the federal Bureau of Prisons to transfer an inmate to state custody so that he could be executed for his role in the kidnapping and killing of a 77-year-old woman in 1999.Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond requested the transfer on Thursday of... Read More.

Supreme Court Grants a New Hearing for the Only Woman on Oklahoma’s Death Row

Wednesday, January 22 by AP

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered lower courts to review the case of the only woman on Oklahoma’s death row over concerns that prosecutors’ discussion of her sexual history rendered her trial unfair in the murder of her estranged husband.The court, over two dissenting votes, threw out a federal... Read More.

US Carries Out 25 Executions This Year as Death Penalty Trends in Nation Held Steady

Thursday, December 26 by Ponca City Now

HOUSTON (AP) — The number of executions in the U.S. remained near historic lows in 2024 and was mostly carried out in a small group of states, including Alabama, which became the first state to use nitrogen gas as an execution method, according to an annual report on capital punishment.The report by the Read More.