KC Reporter

Today, Governor Mike Parson confirmed that the State of Missouri will carry out the sentence of Marcellus Williams on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, as ordered by the Supreme Court of Missouri.

Marcellus Williams murdered Felicia Gayle on August 11, 1998. He burglarized Ms. Gayle’s home, ambushed her as she left the shower, stabbed her 43 times and left the knife lodged in her neck, and then stole items from her home. Williams was identified as the suspect after he was arrested for a string of robberies in the St. Louis area.

“Capital punishment cases are some of the hardest issues we have to address in the Governor’s Office, but when it comes down to it, I follow the law and trust the integrity of our judicial system,” Governor Parson said. “Mr. Williams has exhausted due process and every judicial avenue, including over 15 hearings attempting to argue his innocence and overturn his conviction. No jury nor court, including at the trial, appellate, and Supreme Court levels, have ever found merit in Mr. Williams’ innocence claims. At the end of the day, his guilty verdict and sentence of capital punishment were upheld. Nothing from the real facts of this case have led me to believe in Mr. Williams’ innocence; as such, Mr. Williams’ punishment will be carried out as ordered by the Supreme Court.”

“I also want to add how deeply disturbed we’ve been about how this case has been covered. Mr. Williams’ attorneys chose to muddy the waters about DNA evidence, claims of which Courts have repeatedly rejected. Yet some media outlets and activist groups have continued such claims without so much as a mention of the judicial proceedings or an unbiased analysis of the facts. I would just implore the media to do their due diligence and not rely on sole claims of individuals who have a personal or monetary stake in this case. The facts are Mr. Williams has been found guilty not by the Governor’s Office but by a jury of his peers and upheld by Courts,” Governor Parson continued.

Williams has repeatedly alleged innocence despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. None of these fact-finding entities have been convinced of his innocence: (1) a jury at trial; (2) Missouri Supreme Court during state habeas proceedings; (3) a Board of Inquiry; nor (4) St. Louis County Circuit Court.

The State proved that Williams is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt due to several factors:

- DNA technology and testing before trial did not examine "touch DNA," based on standard techniques at that time.

- Subsequent DNA testing has never exonerated Williams.

- Williams has a criminal history with 15 felony convictions related to Ms. Gayle's murder: robbery (2), armed criminal action (2), assault (2), burglary (4), stealing (3), stealing a motor vehicle, unlawful use of a weapon.

- He confessed to his girlfriend soon after committing his crime once she found Ms. Gayle’s purse in his car but threatened her if she told anyone.

- The girlfriend never requested reward money for information about Ms. Gayle’s murder.

- A jailhouse informant provided information consistent with crime scene evidence.

- Other individuals witnessed him bragging about this murder.

- Gayle’s personal items were found in his car trunk.

- He sold Ms.Gayle's husband's laptop.

Williams' behavior in prison includes attacking inmates and threatening correctional officers.

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