Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board recommends clemency in Tremane Wood death penalty case

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — The Pardon and Parole Board voted 3-2 on Wednesday, recommending clemency in the death penalty case of Tremane Wood, the Oklahoma City man who was convicted of murder in 2002.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond was at the hearing giving a case against clemency, but ultimately failed.

“After this dangerous criminal took a young man’s life, he stayed fully active in the criminal world from behind bars. I am disappointed by the Pardon and Parole Board's decision today but appreciate their thoughtful deliberation. My office will continue to pursue justice for Ronnie Wipf. We intend to make our case to the governor on why clemency should not be granted and why the death sentence, as determined by a jury, should be carried out,” said Attorney General Gentner Drummond.

Wood was convicted of fatally stabbing 19-year-old Ronald (Ronnie) Wipf during an early morning robbery with his brother, Jake, at an Oklahoma City motel on New Year's Day in 2002.

He was ultimately sentenced to death, while his brother Jake received a life sentence, even after he admitted to being the one who killed Wipf.

The argument was surrounding who killed Wipf. In the end, the jury found that Tremane Wood did.

However, during the time of the case, Wood's attorney admitted that he drank heavily and abused cocaine, ultimately leading to his license being suspended.

The Board heard that and voted 3-2, recommending clemency.

On Wednesday, Drummond argued that because of Tremane's actions while in prison, it secures his execution, but the Board didn't see it that way.

The decision now falls into the hands of Governor Kevin Stitt on whether the execution takes place. The last time he commuted a sentence was for Julius Jones in 2021.