Daijiworld Media Network – Oklahoma
Oklahoma, May 13: An Oklahoma death row inmate scheduled to be executed this week for the 2007 murder of his former girlfriend and her infant daughter has appealed for clemency, saying he regrets the crime but does not deserve to die.
Raymond Eugene Johnson, 52, is set to be executed by lethal injection on Thursday at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester for the killing of 24-year-old Brooke Whitaker and her seven-month-old daughter, Kya.
According to court records, Johnson attacked Whitaker with a claw hammer at her Tulsa home in June 2007 before setting the house on fire. Kya died in the blaze, while Whitaker later succumbed to severe burns and head injuries at a hospital.
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond described Johnson as a “heinous murderer” who subjected Whitaker to extreme violence before setting both mother and child on fire.
“Johnson has never taken full accountability for these unconscionable acts, which devastated an entire family and left three children without their mother and baby sister,” Drummond said in a statement.
During a recent clemency hearing, Johnson admitted responsibility for the killings and called them the “worst moment” of his life.
“It’s a horrible crime. There’s no version of the story other than the horrible truth,” he told the parole board, while arguing that he had changed during his years in prison.
Johnson said he had found faith, mentored inmates, and tried to guide others away from violence. He appealed for an opportunity to continue helping others rather than face execution.
However, the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board unanimously rejected his clemency plea in a 5-0 vote.
Prosecutors argued that Johnson intentionally inflicted maximum suffering on Whitaker and her infant daughter. First Assistant Attorney General Amy Ely told the board that Johnson had opportunities to spare the child but instead left the infant to die in the flames.
“This is not a close call,” Ely said while opposing mercy for the inmate.
Family members of the victims emotionally addressed the board, recalling the pain and trauma caused by the murders. Brooke Whitaker’s aunt, Angie Short, said the victims’ bodies were so badly damaged that relatives could not even view them after death.
Brooke Whitaker was remembered by relatives as a caring mother of four known for her cheerful personality and affectionate nature, while baby Kya was described as a joyful child whose life was cut tragically short.
Whitaker’s grandmother, Carolyn Short, said the prolonged legal process had also deeply affected Brooke’s mother, Andra, who died eight months ago after years of emotional stress linked to the case.
Johnson’s execution, if carried out, will mark the 11th execution in the United States this year and the second in Oklahoma in 2026.