I know about the death penalty because it was charged in the Golden State Killer case. Then, it was used as a political football by Republican prosecutors who saw the charge as a resume opportunity. Hell, it was so bad that Republican prosecutors also used the case as an opportunity and used it to fundraise. It made me sick.

When I read the news about the Governor of Missouri and his craven disregard for Marcellus Williams, I knew I’d have to talk about it.

A Quick Review: The Death Penalty in the U.S.

The death penalty is one of the most controversial issues in the U.S., and it ties to the values we hold dear in a democracy, including justice, fairness, and the protection of individual rights. A well-known legal maxim states, “It is better that ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer.” This maxim reflects one of democracy’s core principles: the need for fairness in our legal system, even if it means erring on the side of caution.

Today, 24 states still have the death penalty, while 23 have abolished it, and 3 have moratoriums in place. States that retain the death penalty tend to lean more conservative, with a majority of executions happening in the South, a region politically dominated by Republicans. But does the death penalty align with democratic values? In a true democracy, where justice is fair and equal, the death penalty can seem out of place, especially when we see how often it has been applied unjustly.

Since 1973, 190 people have been exonerated from death row, proving that they were wrongfully convicted. Enter Marcellus Williams. There was DNA evidence exonerating him. And yet, thanks to the incredible racism and hate of the Governor, he was executed in Missouri yesterday.

Cases like these raise serious questions about the role of the death penalty in a just society, especially when decent people don’t take responsibility for doing the right thing.

Let’s compare my case to what happened in Missouri.

DNA Guilty: Joseph DeAngelo, a white, middle-class man. He lived a seemingly ordinary life as a former police officer and mechanic. But underneath that facade, he was responsible for some of the most heinous crimes in California’s history—13 murders, over 50 rapes, and countless burglaries. DeAngelo was arrested in 2018 without incident, despite the horrors he inflicted on the victims and their families, including my own.

Though not wealthy, DeAngelo had the benefit of being middle class, which gave him access to stable employment, education, and the ability to secure legal representation. DeAngelo’s case was a political hot ticket. Republican prosecutors saw the opportunity to use the Golden State Killer case as a high-profile platform, furthering their careers by positioning themselves as champions of justice against a notorious serial killer. Prosecutors in California leveraged the attention surrounding DeAngelo’s capture, bringing his crimes to the forefront as they made political headway.

Because of the gravity of his crimes and DNA evidence proving his guilt, DeAngelo faced the death penalty. His crimes were premeditated, with multiple murders, murders committed with rape, kidnapping, and more. Because it was a death penalty case, it even triggered additional victim services and processes. It’s a big deal.

DNA Exonerated: Marcellus Williams was a Black man from a low-income background. He never had DeAngelo’s advantages. Convicted of the 1998 murder of Felicia Gayle, Williams maintained his innocence throughout his trial and appeals. The politics surrounding Williams’ case, however, were quite different. Despite concerns over racial discrimination in jury selection and DNA evidence that exonerated him, Missouri moved forward with his execution in September 2024.

The state of Missouri, with a predominantly conservative leadership, refused to stay the execution despite pressure from advocacy groups and legal organizations. Williams’ case did not have the political shine of a serial killer brought to justice. Instead, it was marred by the systemic racism embedded in the justice system, particularly in Missouri, where prosecutors and officials ignored significant doubts about his guilt. The politics here worked against Williams. He was a Black man, convicted of killing a white woman, and the pressure to maintain a “tough on crime” stance outweighed the pursuit of true justice.

DNA has revolutionized how we handle criminal cases, yet the legal system seems to lag in its ability to act swiftly when DNA evidence is brought forward. As of today, there are others like Marcellus Williams on death row who have been DNA exonerated but remain in prison, waiting for the system to catch up. This lag disproportionately affects people of color and those living in poverty, highlighting the embedded racism and classism in our justice system.

Political Footballs: DeAngelo vs. Williams

While the Golden State Killer case gave Republican prosecutors a platform to advance their careers, Marcellus Williams’ case shows how politics can work in the opposite direction. His case was not one where prosecutors could earn political favor by stopping an execution. Denying clemency for a Black man convicted of murdering a white woman was seen as politically advantageous in Missouri. The racial undertones and lack of political will to reverse Williams’ fate reflect how deeply embedded bias can influence life-or-death decisions.

DeAngelo and Williams differ in their crimes, race, class, and how their cases were handled politically. DeAngelo received life in prison. He was white and middle class, and he became a political chess piece for prosecutors to gain recognition. On the other hand, Marcellus Williams, DNA exonerated, was executed. He was Black and poor, and his case did not offer any political gains for those who could have saved him.

This isn’t just about guilt or innocence but how our system unequally applies justice. It’s about how race, poverty, and politics intersect to determine who lives and dies in America’s justice system.

Sister Helen Prejean and the Call for Justice Reform

The death penalty is often used as a tool of authoritarian regimes to silence opposition and enforce control through fear. In a democracy where power is supposed to reside with the people, should we not strive for a justice system that values life, fairness, and the protection of the innocent? The case of Marcellus Williams shows us how close we can come to authoritarianism when we allow the state to execute individuals without definitive proof of guilt.

Sister Helen Prejean, an advocate for abolishing the death penalty, has long fought for justice reform. The movie Dead Man Walking, starring Sean Penn, brought her story to life and introduced many to the horrors and moral dilemmas surrounding the death penalty. Sister Helen’s work focuses on educating the public, and she’s a voice to listen to as we reevaluate what the hell we are doing with our justice system.

Justice reform is not just about changing laws but also about changing how we understand fairness in our democracy. As we look to the future, we must support political parties like the Democrats that are committed to creating a more just legal system. It is time for us to push for an end to the death penalty and work towards a legal system that truly reflects the values of democracy.

I discuss it here if you’d like to know more about our case.