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Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City praised the governor of Oklahoma for granting a death row inmate clemency just minutes before his execution was scheduled to begin.
"I commend the courage Gov. Stitt has shown to grant clemency in the case involving Tremane Wood," said Coakley in a November 13 statement published across his social media channels.
"The governor's commitment to balancing justice with mercy and maintaining an opportunity for redemption is laudable. In view of the particularly troubling details of Wood's case, erring on the side of life should always be our first instinct," he said.
Archbishop Coakley continued, adding, "May this decision signal a continued conversion of heart in favor of life in Oklahoma" and offering prayers for Ronnie Wipf, the man Wood was convicted of killing.
Wood spent two decades on Oklahoma's death row for the New Year's Day 2002 killing of 19-year-old Wipf during an attempted robbery. He maintained that his brother, Zjaiton, was the person who actually killed Wipf.
Zjaiton Wood had been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He reportedly confessed to numerous people while in prison that he was the one who killed Wipf. Zjaiton Wood died in 2019.
Clemency granted
Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) said he opted to spare Wood from the execution chamber as it was more just to give him the same sentence his brother received.
"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 release announcing the clemency.
"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," said Stitt.
"I pray for the family of Ronnie Wipf and for the surviving victim, Arnie; they are models of Christian forgiveness and love."
Death penalty in Oklahoma
Oklahoma is one of 27 states where the death penalty remains legal. The state has the highest per capita number of executions since the death penalty was resumed in 1976.
Currently, there are 27 people on death row in Oklahoma, including one woman. The state last executed someone on June 12, 2025.
