Killing For The Sake Of Killing

Missouri is preparing to murder a man that prosecutors say might be innocent. Also, an election update and a look at the down-ballot effects of Republican extremism.

I’m Michael A. Cohen, and this is Truth and Consequences: A no-holds-barred look at the absurdities, hypocrisies, and surreality. If you were sent this email or are a free subscriber and would like to become a paid subscriber, you can sign up here.

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State Sanctioned Murder

For MSNBC, I wrote about a tragedy unfolding in Missouri.

On Tuesday evening, Marcellus Williams will be strapped to a gurney at the Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Bonne Terre, Missouri. He will be allowed to offer his last words. Barring a last-minute intervention by Missouri’s governor or the courts, he’ll then be injected with a lethal cocktail of drugs that will end his life. Williams, who was convicted in August 2001 for the brutal stabbing murder of Felicia Gayle Picus, may very well be innocent. 

There is no physical or forensic evidence linking Williams to the crime scene. Fingerprints taken at the crime scene were inexplicably destroyed. Neither bloodied footprints nor hair at the crime scene could be linked to to Williams. The evidence against him is the testimony of two eyewitnesses — a jailhouse informant and Williams’ former girlfriend. His attorneys argue that both implicated Williams because they wanted to claim a $10,000 reward.  

But perhaps the most unusual element of Williams’ situation is that, seemingly, no one with a stake in the outcome of the case wants him to die. Gayle Picus’ family, who believe that Williams is guilty, opposes the imposition of the death penalty. Members of the jury have expressed second thoughts about the verdict. And even the office that prosecuted Williams, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, has led the charge to free Williams from prison. 

Prosecuting attorneys are the ones who usually work most feverishly to uphold a successful conviction, but not in this case. In January, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office asked a state court to vacate Williams’ guilty verdict. Their view and that of the victim’s family, which doesn’t want Williams to die, has been ignored. Indeed, after this piece was published, Missouri Governor Mike Parson denied Williams' request for clemency on Monday afternoon. Missouri Supreme Court rejected one of his last appeals. Barring a last-minute — and unlikely — reprieve from the Supreme Court, Williams will die tomorrow evening.

Even if one supports the death penalty, it’s hard to understand the logic of putting to death a man who might be innocent and whom no one with a stake in the outcome wants to see killed. I don’t know if Marcellus Williams is an innocent man. Perhaps he is guilty. But, no matter where the truth lies, his death feels so unnecessary.

Election Update

Last week, I wrote that the 2024 election is not a toss-up, and then a bunch of polling dropped from top-tier pollsters.

NBC: Harris +5

CBS: Harris +4

Fox: Harris +2

A New York Times survey showed the race tied, but quite a bit about that poll seems hinky.

Still, we throw everything in the polling averages, and Harris’s lead remains the same.

Nonetheless, I feel even more confident about my post from last week.