Inmate executed for 1994 murder
Printer-friendly version
Send to friendMissouri executed its first inmate since October of 2005 when Dennis Skillicorn, convicted of killing an Excelsior Springs businessman in 1994, was put to death May 20.
The last person to be executed in Missouri was Marlin Gray. The temporary halt to executions occurred after inmates had challenged the constitutionality of lethal injection.
Missouri enacted its current death penalty statute in 1977 and has executed 66 people, making it among the top five in the nation in executions. Missouri bishops have reaffirmed the Catholic Church’s opposition to the use of the death penalty, saying it disregards the dignity and sanctity of human life and, because of the modern justice system, capital punishment is not necessary to protect society.
Civic and religious leaders from across the state, including the Catholic bishops of Missouri, had submitted a clemency application to Gov. Jay Nixon for Skillicorn. Saying that society and public safety would be better served if he were allowed to continue his prison ministries, they requested that Skillicorn’s death sentence be commuted to life in prison without parole.
A subscription is required to access this content.
Current online and print subscribers, click here to login and view this article.
Please click here to subscribe to the St. Louis Review. You may subscribe to the online edition only or both the online and print editions.
If you already have a subscription and are still unable to access this information, please contact the St. Louis Review.Why does the St. Louis Review require a subscription to access content online? (Click to view).
