UPDATE: Gissendaner’s execution has been rescheduled to Monday, March 2, due to a winter storm forecast to hit Georgia. Previously: On February 25 the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles denied clemency to Kelly Gissendaner, the only woman on the state’s death row. Gissendaner was convicted of orchestrating the murder of her husband, but did not carry out the killing herself. At Gissendaner’s clemency hearing, 21 people testified in favor of a reduction in sentence, including two of Gissendaner’s children, several prison volunteers, and members of the clergy. Gissendaner’s daughter, Kayla, said, “My father’s death was extremely painful for many people, but I’ve recently concluded that in many ways I was the person who was most impacted by his murder. The impact of losing my mother would be devastating. I can’t fathom losing another parent.” The man who committed the murder pleaded guilty in exchange for a life sentence. Gissendaner’s attorney advised her not to take the same deal, saying that he thought a jury would not sentence her to death, “because she was a woman and because she did not actually kill Doug.” Unless an appeals court halts the execution, Gissendaner will be the first woman executed in Georgia in 70 years.
(K. Brumback, “Ga. set to execute only female death row inmate this week,” Associated Press, February 23, 2015; K. Brumback, “Georgia Parole Board denies clemency for Kelly Gissendaner,” Associated Press, February 25, 2015). The execution was originally scheduled for Feb. 25. See Women and Clemency.
