In a significant surge of state-sanctioned executions, Oklahoma and Florida marked a notable chapter for the American death penalty this week. On March 20, 2025, Oklahoma executed Wendell Grissom, 56, by lethal injection for the deadly shooting of 23-year-old Amber Matthews during a 2005 home invasion. His execution garnered attention not only for its timing as the first in Oklahoma for 2025 but also for the intense emotions surrounding the case, particularly from Dreu Kopf, the survivor of the attack whose testimony provides a haunting backdrop to the event.
Grissom was pronounced dead at 10:13 a.m. at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester, following a lethal injection process that took a total of 13 minutes. As he acknowledged his past sins during his final moments, he expressed deep regret for the hatred he had caused, stating, “I apologize to all of you that I’ve hurt.” His execution was witnessed by over two dozen family members and friends of Matthews, including Kopf, who emphasized the pain of the loss that has haunted her since that tragic day.
According to prosecutors, Grissom, along with his accomplice Jessie Floyd Johns, randomly chose Kopf's home in Blaine County as a target while committing robberies along Interstate 40. The horrific crime left Matthews dead after she was shot twice in the head. While Kopf, wounded, managed to escape and seek help, their children were found unharmed in the home. Johns remains imprisoned without the possibility of parole.
Kopf, who was shot multiple times, highlighted the lasting trauma she endures saying, “I lived in a heightened state of fear at all times.” Her words echoed the gravity of the crime as it reignited conversations about the appropriateness of capital punishment in cases involving brutal violence against innocent citizens. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond referred to Matthews’s killing as a “textbook” death penalty case, emphasizing the severity of the crime.
Simultaneously, just hours later in Florida, Edward Thomas James, 63, became the second execution of the day and the fourth this week across the United States. He was executed at 8 p.m. ET for the 1993 murders of Betty Dick, 58, and her granddaughter, Toni Neuner, 8. James, who confessed to the crimes after a 17-day manhunt following the murders, received his execution just hours after Grissom. His execution may signal a renewed trajectory toward aggressive application of capital punishment in a nation where public opinion remains divided on this critical issue.
James's crime was heinous; he strangled and raped the young Neuner and subsequently attacked her grandmother after a plea for mercy. His actions led to a brutal and senseless loss of innocent lives. James’s attorney argued for a stay of execution, citing significant cognitive decline and other mental health issues the inmate faced in recent years, claiming that executing him under these conditions constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. However, courts consistently denied these appeals, citing his lucid confessions and acknowledgment of guilt.
Amid a backdrop of increasingly heated debates, the two executions illustrate the complexities surrounding the death penalty in America. Numerous executions have occurred recently, with the U.S. witnessing a wave in the resumption of capital punishment. Just the day before Grissom's execution, the state of Louisiana executed Jessie Hoffman using nitrogen gas, and the day prior saw Arizona execute Aaron Gunches by lethal injection. The string of events raises questions about the potential return to harsher means of justice in a landscape where executions are becoming frequent, with four more slated for April 2025 across different states.
While cases like Grissom and James shine a light on the darkest corners of human behavior, they also invite broader scrutiny of the justice system's role and efficacy in dealing with violent crime. Public reactions remain mixed, with some advocating for stricter measures against those who commit egregious acts of violence, while others decry the inhumanity of capital punishment.
Grissom's execution was the ninth in the United States in 2025. States like Oklahoma faced extensive criticism regarding their methods of administering lethal drugs, with past procedures resulting in botched executions that raised serious questions about moral and ethical implications. States have been urged to re-evaluate their protocols amidst growing scrutiny from both the public and legal experts.
In specific reference to Grissom’s case, his attorneys argued his brain damage and history of mental health issues were never presented in court. Kristi Christopher, a public defender involved in Grissom's case, said during his clemency hearing that he has always expressed remorse and recognized the severity of his actions when he stated, “He cannot change the past, but he is now and always has been deeply ashamed and remorseful.” Yet, these appeals were met with a staunch refusal from the state’s Pardon and Parole Board.
As America grapples with the implications of state executions, these recent events underscore a fragile balance between justice for victims and ethical considerations surrounding capital punishment. With every execution, the weight of each life lost echoes through communities, questioning not only the morality but also the effectiveness of such a severe form of retribution.
