Missouri Supreme Court official announcements and legal records

Marcellus Williams Gets Life Without Parole in Missouri Alford Plea

Aug 21, 2024, 08:09 PM

Marcellus Williams, a Missouri death row inmate convicted of the 1998 murder of Lisha Gayle, has agreed to an Alford plea, resulting in a sentence of life without parole. This decision comes after new DNA evidence emerged, weakening the conviction. Initially scheduled for execution on September 24, Williams sought to prove his innocence. Despite the plea agreement, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey plans to appeal the decision to the Missouri Supreme Court, continuing his efforts to have Williams executed.