Death row inmate found unresponsive in cell after being granted clemency

An Oklahoma decease enactment inmate was hospitalized Thursday aft being recovered unresponsive successful his cell, officials said, just hours aft being granted clemency connected the aforesaid time helium was scheduled to beryllium executed.

Forty-six-year-old Tremane Wood was granted clemency Thursday greeting by Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt. After that determination came down, Wood met with his attorneys for "several hours," according to a connection from the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. The bureau said it past moved him disconnected decease enactment and into a caller cell.

At immoderate point, a correctional serviceman recovered Wood "unresponsive" successful his caller cell, the section said, and situation unit determined that helium had "experienced a aesculapian lawsuit that resulted successful injuries."

Wood was taken to a adjacent infirmary "out of utmost caution," wherever doctors recovered that his "medical event" was owed to "dehydration and stress," the section said.  

Following the incident, Wood besides took portion successful a telephone telephone with ODOC spokesperson Kay Thompson, the section said, successful which helium told her that helium couldn't "really explicate what happened."

He allegedly told Thompson that helium had laid down to slumber and "must person rolled disconnected his bunk," disclosing that the adjacent happening helium remembered was waking "up successful the infirmary" with "[his] caput busted and [his] articulator busted," according to the department.

"He besides confirmed that nary 1 other was successful his compartment astatine the clip of the aesculapian lawsuit and that helium did not bash thing intentionally to origin it," the section said successful its quality release.

In the telephone call, Wood allegedly indicated to Thompson that helium had not eaten oregon drank thing since Wednesday evening, the section added.

He was discharged from the infirmary and returned to the Oklahoma State Penitentiary, wherever helium spoke with his household and a spiritual advisor, the section said.

CBS News has reached retired to Wood's attorneys for comment.

"I'm highly arrogant of my squad today," ODOC Executive Director Justin Farris said successful a statement. "It is our statutory work to transportation retired court-ordered sentences, and our unit ever execute their duties with utmost professionalism and with the utmost respect and compassion. Today's events item the tremendous occupation they bash time successful and time out, particularly during high-profile events."

Wood had been sentenced to decease aft being convicted, on with his member Zjaiton Wood, successful the 2001 execution of Ronnie Wipf, a migrant farmworker from Montana, during a botched robbery astatine an Oklahoma City hotel.

Zjaiton Wood was sentenced to beingness successful situation without parole. He died successful 2019.

Tremane Wood and his attorneys, however, had ever maintained that portion helium was progressive successful the robbery, helium did not transportation retired the slaying, arguing that the execution was committed by Zjaiton Wood alone.

Last week, the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board recommended clemency for Tremane Wood.

"After a thorough reappraisal of the facts and prayerful consideration, I person chosen to judge the Pardon and Parole Board's proposal to commute Tremane Wood's condemnation to beingness without parole," Sitt said successful a connection Thursday morning. "This enactment reflects the aforesaid punishment his member received for their execution of an guiltless young antheral and ensures a terrible punishment that keeps a convulsive offender disconnected the streets forever."

This marked Sitt's 2nd clemency since taking office. Wood is besides the sixth condemned idiosyncratic to person clemency successful the authorities successful the modern past of superior punishment. 

Emily Mae Czachor contributed to this report.

• Oklahoma
• Death Row
• Execution