parson

Activists made a bid to spare Williams, but Republican Missouri Gov. Mike Parson and the Supreme Court denied the plea.

In denying Williams clemency, Missouri’s Republican governor, Mike Parson, said he had “a robust criminal history,” including 15 previous felony convictions, which were “all consistent with entering the home, attacking Ms. Gayle, and taking her” belongings.

Attorneys, criminal rights activists and politicians spoke out to condemn the execution, carried out after requests for it to be stayed were denied by both the Missouri and United States Supreme Courts and after Republican Missouri Gov. Mike Parson declined Williams' final appeal for clemency.

In the weeks — and, especially, days — leading up to Williams' execution, Americans nationwide pleaded for Parson to commute Williams' sentence to life without parole through a targeted campaign of calls, letters, faxes and a clemency petition signed by the victim's family.

“Mr. Williams has exhausted due process and every judicial avenue, including over 15 hearings attempting to argue his innocence and overturn his conviction. No jury nor court, including at the trial, appellate, and Supreme Court levels, have ever found merit in Mr. Williams’ innocence claims," Parson said in a statement following his decision Monday. "At the end of the day, his guilty verdict and sentence of capital punishment were upheld.