Oklahoma’s court of appeals has cleared the way for the execution of a 61-year-old man convicted of murdering a retired banker in 1999, reinstating his death sentence after briefly halting it.

At a Glance

• John Fitzgerald Hanson, 61, is scheduled for execution in Oklahoma on Thursday after the state’s Court of Criminal Appeals overturned a temporary stay
• Hanson was convicted of the 1999 murder of Mary Agnes Bowles, a 77-year-old retired banker, after carjacking and kidnapping her from a Tulsa shopping mall
• This is Hanson’s third scheduled execution date, with his clemency request recently denied by the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board in a 3-2 vote
• Hanson was serving a life sentence in federal prison before being transferred to Oklahoma custody during the Trump administration
• Hanson was also sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Jerald Thurman, a dirt pit owner

Court Reinstates Execution Order

The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals ruled 4-0 to overturn a temporary stay of execution for John Fitzgerald Hanson, putting his Thursday execution back on schedule. Hanson, 61, was convicted of the 1999 murder of Mary Agnes Bowles, a 77-year-old retired banker who was carjacked and kidnapped from a Tulsa shopping mall. The ruling marks a definitive stance in Oklahoma’s ongoing implementation of capital punishment for the most severe criminal cases.

Hanson’s case represents the third time he has faced an execution date, having previously escaped death twice. His attorneys recently claimed to have new evidence regarding a key prosecution witness, but this argument was rejected by the courts. The Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office successfully disputed a district court judge’s authority to issue the temporary stay that had briefly halted the execution.

Federal-State Custody Transfer Controversy

Before being scheduled for execution in Oklahoma, Hanson was serving a life sentence in federal prison. His transfer to Oklahoma state custody was expedited during the Trump administration as part of efforts to support capital punishment implementation. This procedural move highlights the complex interplay between federal and state jurisdictions in death penalty cases, particularly when a defendant faces charges in multiple systems.

The transfer process has become one point of contention in Hanson’s case. His attorneys argued that his clemency hearing was unfair due to a potential conflict of interest, though this argument failed to persuade either the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board or the courts. The board ultimately denied Hanson’s clemency request in a close 3-2 vote, allowing the execution to proceed pending court challenges.

Multiple Murder Convictions

Hanson’s criminal record extends beyond the murder of Mary Agnes Bowles. He was also sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Jerald Thurman, a dirt pit owner killed during the same crime spree. This pattern of violence likely influenced decision-makers throughout the clemency and appeals process, reinforcing the state’s determination to carry out the death sentence despite multiple challenges from defense attorneys.

Hanson’s execution is reportedly one of four scheduled in the United States this week, placing Oklahoma once again at the center of national discussions about capital punishment. The state has maintained its commitment to the death penalty even as some other states have moved away from the practice, reflecting Oklahoma’s traditionally firm stance on punishment for the most serious violent crimes.