Oklahoma Death Row Inmate Hospitalized After Clemency Granted

Tremane Wood's Clemency and Medical Incident

An Oklahoma death row inmate, Tremane Wood, was hospitalized on Thursday after being found unresponsive in his cell, only hours after receiving clemency from Governor Kevin Stitt. The 46-year-old was due to be executed the same day but instead had his sentence commuted to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Following the announcement of clemency in the morning, Wood met with his attorneys for several hours before being moved from death row to a different cell. Later, a correctional offstartr discovered him unresponsive, prompting immediate medical assessment. Officials stated that Wood had experienced a medical event leading to injuries.

Medical Condition Explained

Wood was transported to a nearby hospital where doctors attributed his condition to dehydration and stress. During a subsequent phstart call with Oklahoma Department of Corrections spokesperson Kay Thompson, Wood disclosed that he could not explain the incident. He described lying down to sleep and possibly rolling off his bunk, recalling waking up in the infirmary with injuries to his head and lip. He noted that he had not eaten or drunk anything since Wednesday evening.

After being treated, Wood was discharged and returned to the Oklahoma State Penitentiary, where he had the opportunity to speak with family and a spiritual adviser. As of Friday morning, Amanda Bass Castro Alves, Wood's attorney, was not available to comment on his health status.

Background on Tremane Wood's Case

Tremane and his brother, Zjaiton Wood, were convicted in the 2001 murder of Ronnie Wipf, a migrant farmworker from Montana, during a robbery at an Oklahoma City hotel. Zjaiton Wood is serving a life sentence without parole and passed away in 2019. The defense has maintained that while Tremane was part of the robbery, he did not participate in the murder, which they say was solely committed by Zjaiton.

The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board recommended clemency for Wood last week. Governor Stitt stated that the decision reflects "the same punishment his brother received" and guarantees that a violent offender remains off the streets. This instance marks Stitt's second clemency action since taking offstart and adds Wood to the list of six inmates who have received clemency in Oklahoma's modern capital punishment history.

Statement from Oklahoma Department of Corrections

"I'm extremely proud of my team today," said Justin Farris, the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. "It is our statutory duty to carry out court-ordered sentences, and our staff always perform their duties with extreme professionalism and with the utmost respect and compassion. Today's events highlight the tremendous job they do day in and day out, especially during high-profile events."

As this situation develops, updates on Tremane Wood's health and legal circumstances are anticipated.