Oklahoma Death Row Inmate Declines Clemency, Maintains Innocence

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A man who is set to be executed in September for the murder of a University of Oklahoma dance student in 1996 has made the decision to reject the opportunity for a clemency hearing. Anthony Sanchez, aged 44, expressed little faith in the state’s Republican governor, believing that there is little chance of him granting clemency and sparing his life.

Speaking from Oklahoma’s death row in a telephone interview on Thursday, Sanchez shared his perspective on the matter. He observed that he had witnessed numerous inmates seek clemency, only to be denied, leading him to conclude that the prospects were not favorable for him or anyone else in a similar position.

Sanchez pointed to the recent cases of Bigler Stouffer and James Coddington, both of whom were executed despite receiving a 3-2 vote in favor of clemency from the Pardon and Parole Board. Sanchez empathized with them, stating that he did not wish to participate in a process that would raise false hopes for those involved.

“Instead,” he added, “why wouldn’t I focus on proving my innocence through the courts?”

Governor Kevin Stitt had previously granted clemency to Julius Jones, commuting his death sentence to life in prison without parole in 2021. Jones’ case had attracted attention from public figures such as reality TV star Kim Kardashian and professional athletes with connections to Oklahoma, including NBA stars Russell Westbrook, Blake Griffin, and Trae Young, as well as NFL quarterback Baker Mayfield. They all urged Governor Stitt to spare Jones’ life.

Sanchez, who maintains his innocence, revealed that he is no longer cooperating with his court-appointed attorneys. However, Mark Barrett, Sanchez’s representative, clarified that he was appointed by a federal judge and that their professional relationship is contingent on the judge’s release.

In April, the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals denied Sanchez’s attorneys’ request for an evidentiary hearing. The hearing aimed to present their argument that Sanchez’s late father, Thomas Glen Sanchez, was the actual perpetrator of the crime committed against 21-year-old Juli Busken. Busken, hailing from Benton, Arkansas, had just finished her final semester at the University of Oklahoma when she was abducted on December 20, 1996, from her residence in Norman. Her body was discovered later that day, showing signs of rape and a fatal gunshot wound.

For several years, the case remained unsolved until DNA evidence found on Busken’s clothes linked Anthony Sanchez to the crime. In 2006, he was convicted of rape and murder and sentenced to death.

A private investigator hired by an anti-death penalty organization has raised concerns about potential DNA evidence contamination and miscommunication regarding its strength during the trial by an inexperienced lab technician.

However, former Cleveland County District Attorney Tim Kuykendall insisted that there were other pieces of evidence linking Anthony Sanchez to the murder, including ballistic evidence and a shoe print found at the crime scene. Despite any claims of confession, Kuykendall maintained that he was convinced of Sanchez’s guilt.

Oklahoma resumed carrying out the death penalty in 2021 after a six-year hiatus due to concerns about its execution methods. The state’s execution procedures faced complications in 2014 and 2015, including drug mix-ups and a botched execution.

For more updates, follow Sean Murphy on Twitter: @apseanmurphy

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