The State of Oklahoma carries out its first execution of 2025.

 

Yesterday morning, the State carried out the death sentence of 56-year-old Wendell Arden Grissom at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester. Grissom was pronounced dead at 10:13am.He was found guilty of first-degree murder for the shooting death of 23-year-old Amber Matthews near Watonga in 2005. Matthews had been at a friend's house in rural Blaine County, helping the friend pack for a move. His accomplice, Jesse Johns is serving life in prison without the possibility of parole for his role in the crime. In his last words, Grissom apologized and asked for forgiveness.

 

Dreu Kofp, - Matthews' friend who survived the attack – stated that she felt the apology was sincere but that it came too late.