The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted unanimously against recommending clemency for death row inmate Raymond Eugene Johnson on Wednesday. Johnson, 52, was convicted of the brutal 2007 murders of Brooke Whitaker and her 7-month-old daughter, Kya, and is scheduled for execution on May 14, 2026.
Details of the Brutal Crime
In June 2007, Johnson, a former inmate with a history of violence, entered Whitaker’s home after she returned from work in the early morning hours. He brutally attacked Whitaker with a claw hammer, leaving her with exposed brain matter.
Johnson kept her alive for six hours, during which she begged for help. He then doused both Whitaker and her child with gasoline and set them on fire while they were still alive.
Firefighters discovered Whitaker’s body under her daughter’s bunk bed, but she could not be revived. Kya, severely burned, was mistaken for a baby doll by first responders due to the extent of her injuries. Kya died from her burns, which made her death excruciatingly painful.
Johnson’s Past and Motive
Johnson had a history of violence prior to the murders. He had been released from prison after serving a 9-year sentence for manslaughter in a 1995 shooting. Johnson and Whitaker began dating after his release, but their relationship was abusive. Whitaker had filed a protective order against Johnson in April 2007, just months before her murder.
In an affidavit, Johnson confessed to the murders, revealing that he didn’t want to return to prison and wanted to kill Whitaker and her child. He admitted to planning the murders, and prosecutors argue that the crime was a culmination of repeated domestic violence attacks.
Victim Impact Statements
During the clemency hearing, Whitaker’s family members spoke out about the lasting pain the murders caused. Whitaker’s oldest daughter, Logan Kleck, wrote in a victim impact letter that while executing Johnson wouldn’t bring back her mother and sister, it would help bring closure to nearly two decades of legal battles.
A statement read on behalf of Alyssa Redfearn, Whitaker’s second daughter, expressed deep emotional pain: “I never deserved this. My sisters never deserved this, and my brother never deserved this, and my mom never deserved this. I’m 24, but here today as that five-year-old little girl begging you not to grant clemency to Raymond Johnson. Don’t let him have this too.”
Johnson’s Apology and Legal Arguments
During the hearing, Johnson apologized to Whitaker’s family, acknowledging the pain he caused. He stated, “My crime doesn’t define who I am. It defines a moment I deeply regret.” Johnson also told the board he attempted to spare the family further pain by trying to plead guilty in exchange for a life sentence without parole instead of a death sentence.
Johnson’s legal team, however, argued that he had changed during his time in prison. His attorney, Tom Hird, described Johnson as a different person, citing his involvement with a church and mentorship from church members as evidence of his rehabilitation. Hird contended that executing Johnson now would mean killing a man who had transformed in the past 20 years.
Opposing Views and Continued Legal Struggles
Oklahoma Assistant Attorney General Jennifer Crabb rejected the notion of Johnson’s transformation, arguing that his involvement in church and claims of rehabilitation were part of a long history of manipulation.
Crabb pointed out that Johnson’s involvement in criminal activities, including withholding information on unsolved murders, further demonstrated his lack of remorse.
The prosecution emphasized the torturous nature of the murders, noting that Whitaker and Kya were both alive when set on fire and that Johnson had shown no regard for their suffering. “This case is one that cries out for the death penalty,” Crabb stated.
Execution Scheduled
Despite the plea for clemency, Raymond Johnson’s execution remains scheduled for May 14, 2026. If carried out, he would become the second person Oklahoma executes this year.
