Entries by Anne Holsinger

Justin Wolfe (pictured, center, with his mother and uncle) was released from prison on September 28, 2026 after pleading guilty to marijuana distribution and entering an Alford plea on charges of solicitation of robbery. He had been sentenced to death nearly 25 years ago for the murder-for-hire of Daniel Petrole, Jr., his marijuana supplier. Owen Barber IV, who admitted to shooting Mr. Petrole, had implicated Mr. Wolfe in order to avoid a death sentence himself. Mr. Barber later recanted his…

Christa Pike remained alive more than an hour after the state of Tennessee began its attempt to execute her on September 30, 2026. It was the latest in a series of troubled executions by the Tennessee Department of Corrections. At a press conference outside the prison, media witnesses sharing their observations were interrupted by emergency vehicles arriving to take Ms. Pike to a local hospital. As outlined in the new execution protocol, Tennessee prison officials administered two doses of…

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine (pictured), a Republican, said on June 16, 2026 that he now believes Ohio should abolish the death penalty. Gov. DeWine helped to write the state’s death penalty law while serving as a state legislator in 1981, but has halted executions during his time as governor, citing concerns about the state’s lethal injection protocol. In a statement, Gov. DeWine described his 50 years of reflection about the death penalty, beginning with his positions in the Ohio legislature…

This week we are featuring some articles from the first part of 2025 that we think are worth another look. We’ll be back with new articles next week. This article originally ran on July 7, 2025. At the midpoint of 2025, the Death Penalty Information Center (DPI) offers this detailed analysis of the key facts and themes emerging in the use of the death penalty across the U.S. For more than 30 years, DPI has been the preeminent national resource for timely and trustworthy information about the…

At the midpoint of 2025, the Death Penalty Information Center (DPI) offers this detailed analysis of the key facts and themes emerging in the use of the death penalty across the U.S. For more than 30 years, DPI has been the preeminent national resource for timely and trustworthy information about the death penalty. Its careful tracking and analysis of death sentences, executions, legislation, and newsworthy events provides critical context to inform meaningful public debate and sound policy…

This month marks the 20^th anniversary of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision in Roper v. Simmons. In a series of posts anticipating the April 2025 release of DPI’s report commemorating the 20^th Anniversary of the Roper decision and its implications for emerging adults , we are exploring scientific and legal developments related to juveniles and emerging adults in the death penalty system. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) refer to potentially traumatic events and circumstances that…

I am Ready, Warden, a documentary about Texas death row prisoner John Henry Ramirez, was announced as a nominee for Best Documentary Short at the 2025 Academy Awards. The film tells the story of the days leading up to Mr. Ramirez’s 2022 execution. It features interviews with Mr. Ramirez and his son, Israel, as well as Nueces County District Attorney Mark Gonzalez, who opposes the death penalty and sought to halt Mr. Ramirez’s execution. It also centers the experience of Aaron Castro, the son…