Gov. Kevin Stitt grants clemency for death row inmate Tremane Wood minutes before execution

Wood's sentence will now be changed to life without parole

15 MINUTES. CAMERON. YEAH, BACK TO THE BREAKING NEWS THIS MORNING. OKLAHOMA DEATH ROW INMATE TRAMAINE WOOD WAS JUST SAVED FROM EXECUTION AT THE LAST MINUTE. A DRAMATIC MOVE FROM GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT GRANTING HIM CLEMENCY. KOCO ELISE JONES IS AT THE STATE PENITENTIARY THERE IN MCALESTER, WHERE THIS NEWS WAS JUST BREAKING. ELISE, YOU WERE THERE. YOU SAW THE REACTION FROM THE FAMILY. WHAT’S THE LATEST THERE FROM THE STATE PENITENTIARY? CAMERON THEY’RE STILL OUT HERE CELEBRATING. THERE’S BEEN TEARS, HUGS, REALLY AN EMOTIONAL HOUR THIS LAST HOUR FOR THE FAMILY AND SUPPORTERS OF TRAMAINE WOOD. NOW THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS TELLS ME THAT WOOD WAS NOT BROUGHT BACK INTO THE EXECUTION CHAMBER DESPITE THE GOVERNOR’S DECISION COMING AT THE VERY FINAL MINUTE. NOW, THE LAST TIME THAT GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT GRANTED CLEMENCY WAS IN 2021 FOR JULIUS JONES, THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER PEOPLE PUT TO DEATH WHILE THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN IN OFFICE. DESPITE THE PARDON AND PAROLE BOARD, PAROLE BOARD RECOMMENDING THEIR LIVES BE SPARED. NOW, THIS WAS THE SCENE OF CELEBRATION OUTSIDE THE STATE PENITENTIARY. FAMILY AND FRIENDS CELEBRATING AFTER GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT CHOSE TO SPARE THE LIFE OF WOOD. THEY ALSO SAY, THOUGH, THAT THEY’RE THINKING OF THE VICTIM. RONNIE WHIPS FAMILY THROUGH THIS TODAY. THE VICTIM’S FAMILY ALSO ADVOCATED THAT THEY DID NOT WANT THIS TO HAPPEN. I AM A VICTIM’S FAMILY MEMBER AND I ALSO OPPOSE THE DEATH PENALTY, BUT I’M SO GRATEFUL TO THEM THAT EVEN IN THEIR GRIEF AND IN THEIR LOSS, THAT THEY WERE STILL ABLE TO ASK FOR HUMANITY. AND SO WE HOLD THEM, ESPECIALLY TODAY AS WELL. NOW, RIGHT AT 10 A.M., WHEN GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT MADE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, HE PUT OUT THIS STATEMENT SAYING HIS DECISION TO SIDE WITH THE PARDON AND PAROLE BOARD REFLECTS THE SAME PUNISHMENT THAT HIS BROTHER WAS GIVEN. HE SAYS HE WILL CONTINUE TO HOLD ACCOUNTABLE PEOPLE WHO COMMIT VIOLENT CRIMES IN OKLAHOMA. THE GOVERNOR ALSO MENTIONED THE VICTIM’S FAMILY, SAYING HE PRAYS FOR THEM AND FOR THE SURVIVING VICTIM, ARNIE, SAYING THAT THEY ARE MODELS OF CHRISTIAN FORGIVENESS AND LOVE. NOW, WE ALSO HEARD FROM ATTORNEY GENERAL GENTNER DRUMMOND, WHO WAS URGING THE GOVERNOR TO TO MAKE THE DECISION TO NOT SPARE WOOD’S LIFE. HE SAYS HE’S DISAPPOINTED IN THE GOVERNOR’S DECISION TODAY. TRAMAINE WOOD WILL NOW SERVE LIFE WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE. REPORTING LIVE IN MCALESTER ALYSE JONES KOCO FIVE NEWS. ELISE. WITH THE LATE BREAKING DETAILS. AND WHAT A MOMENT FOR THAT FAMILY. SHE MENTIONED IT. THIS IS THE STATEMENT JUST IN HERE AT 11 FROM AG GENTNER DRUMMOND. HE SAYS, QUOTE, I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS GRANTED CLEMENCY FOR THIS DANGEROUS MURDERER, BUT RESPECT THAT THIS WAS HIS DECISION TO MAKE. DRUMMOND SAID, MY OFFICE WILL CONTINUE WORKING TO ENSURE THAT TRAMAINE WOOD REMAINS BEHIND BARS, AND THAT THE PUBLIC IS PROTECTE

Updated: 1:22 PM CST Nov 13, 2025

Alyse Jones

Reporter

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Gov. Kevin Stitt grants clemency for death row inmate Tremane Wood minutes before execution

Wood's sentence will now be changed to life without parole

Updated: 1:22 PM CST Nov 13, 2025

Alyse Jones

Reporter

Gov. Kevin Stitt has granted clemency for Tremane Wood, who has been on Oklahoma's death row for more than 20 years. Wood was sentenced to death for the murder of 19-year-old Ronnie Wipf on Jan. 1, 2002. Wood has denied killing anyone. The execution was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester, but the governor's office announced at the last minute that Stitt had granted Wood clemency. Wood's sentence will now be changed to life in prison without parole. Video Below: Family, supporters find out Oklahoma death row inmate Tremane Wood received clemency"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," Stitt said in a news release. "This action reflects the same punishment his brother received for their murder of an innocent young man and ensures a severe punishment that keeps a violent offender off the streets forever. In Oklahoma, we will continue to hold accountable those who commit violent crimes, delivering justice, safeguarding our communities, and respecting the rule of law. I pray for the family of Ronnie Wipf and for the surviving victim, Arnie; they are models of Christian forgiveness and love." Police said Wipf and a friend were traveling through Oklahoma from Montana to Texas to do harvest work. Wood and his brother conspired with two women to get Wipf and the other man into a motel room, according to police. The women were allegedly setting the victims up to be robbed.The 19-year-old man was stabbed in the chest during a struggle with two masked men who rushed into the motel room. Prosecutors say Wood was the one who fatally stabbed Wipf. Video Below: Oklahoma AG disappointed by Stitt's decision to grant clemency for Tremane WoodOklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who has been vocal about executing Wood, expressed his disappointment following the governor's decision. "I am disappointed that the governor has granted clemency for this dangerous murderer, but respect that this was his decision to make," Drummond said in a news release. "My office will continue working to ensure that Tremane Wood remains behind bars and that the public is protected from him."Last week, the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted 3-2 to recommend clemency for Wood. The board said Wood's trial was not fair and just. Video Below: Faith leaders rally to stop death row inmate Tremane Wood's execution after meeting with Gov. StittThe Oklahoma Supreme Court denied Wood's request for a stay of execution last week. Just hours before the execution on Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court denied his request. This marks the second time Stitt has granted clemency for a death row inmate. The only other time was for Julius Jones in 2021.

MCALESTER, Okla. —

Gov. Kevin Stitt has granted clemency for Tremane Wood, who has been on Oklahoma's death row for more than 20 years.

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Wood was sentenced to death for the murder of 19-year-old Ronnie Wipf on Jan. 1, 2002. Wood has denied killing anyone. The execution was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester, but the governor's office announced at the last minute that Stitt had granted Wood clemency.

Wood's sentence will now be changed to life in prison without parole.

Video Below: Family, supporters find out Oklahoma death row inmate Tremane Wood received clemency

"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," Stitt said in a news release. "This action reflects the same punishment his brother received for their murder of an innocent young man and ensures a severe punishment that keeps a violent offender off the streets forever. In Oklahoma, we will continue to hold accountable those who commit violent crimes, delivering justice, safeguarding our communities, and respecting the rule of law. I pray for the family of Ronnie Wipf and for the surviving victim, Arnie; they are models of Christian forgiveness and love."

Police said Wipf and a friend were traveling through Oklahoma from Montana to Texas to do harvest work. Wood and his brother conspired with two women to get Wipf and the other man into a motel room, according to police.

The women were allegedly setting the victims up to be robbed.

The 19-year-old man was stabbed in the chest during a struggle with two masked men who rushed into the motel room. Prosecutors say Wood was the one who fatally stabbed Wipf.

Video Below: Oklahoma AG disappointed by Stitt's decision to grant clemency for Tremane Wood

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who has been vocal about executing Wood, expressed his disappointment following the governor's decision.

"I am disappointed that the governor has granted clemency for this dangerous murderer, but respect that this was his decision to make," Drummond said in a news release. "My office will continue working to ensure that Tremane Wood remains behind bars and that the public is protected from him."

Last week, the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted 3-2 to recommend clemency for Wood. The board said Wood's trial was not fair and just.

Video Below: Faith leaders rally to stop death row inmate Tremane Wood's execution after meeting with Gov. Stitt

The Oklahoma Supreme Court denied Wood's request for a stay of execution last week. Just hours before the execution on Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court denied his request.

This marks the second time Stitt has granted clemency for a death row inmate. The only other time was for Julius Jones in 2021.