An Execution Forestalled

On the ground in Oklahoma at the eleventh hour. Plus: White House tries to talk turkey; gets gobbled up by ABC News. And RFK Jr., purple-prose muse.

Tremane Wood had just eaten the meal he figured would be his last: fried catfish, okra, coleslaw, chocolate ice cream, and Dr Pepper. He was moments away from being administered a lethal injection to punish him for his role in a 2001 robbery that led to a man’s death.

And then the word arrived from Oklahoma governor Kevin Stitt: “After a thorough review of the facts and prayerful consideration, I have chosen to accept the Pardon and Parole Board’s recommendation to commute Tremane Wood’s sentence to life without parole.”

Wood’s near miss with the executioner’s syringe came after months of meticulous attention to his case by his attorneys, family, and advocates. He also had a reporter telling his story—Jessica Schulberg, whose coverage in HuffPost helped set the stage for Wood’s miraculous escape.