Clemency Petitions
Tony Carruthers
On May 21, the state of Tennessee plans to execute Tony Carruthers — even though it refuses to run simple fingerprint and DNA testing that could prove his innocence.
Governor Bill Lee has the power to pause this execution and demand answers to the most basic question: Did Tennessee get the right person?
Here is what we know:
- Carruthers was convicted without physical evidence.
- His conviction was based on testimony from informants, including one paid by the statewho later recanted his statement.
- For decades, the state denied that this informant was paid and actively prevented the jury from knowing the full truth.
- Carruthers was forced to represent himself in court—resulting in a trial riddled with so many mistakes that his co-defendant was granted a new trial.
- There are several fingerprints and DNA from the scene that don’t match Mr. Carruthers, but they were never compared to a suspect identified by his co-defendant.
If Tennessee executes Mr. Carruthers, he will be the first person in nearly a century to be executed after being forced to represent himself at trial.
Christa Pike
Christa Pike, the only woman on Tennessee’s death row, has asked the courts to review her case. If executed, she would be the only individual in Tennessee in the modern era to be executed for actions taken when she was 18 and the first woman executed in Tennessee in more than 200 years.
TAKE ACTION: Sign and share the petition asking Governor Lee to commute Christa’s sentence to life.
Learn more about Christa’s case at https://www.mercyforchrista.org/
Gary Sutton
Gary Sutton awaits execution for the murder of his close friend, Tommy Griffin. Gary has always fiercely maintained his innocence.
Gary’s case is riddled with errors. There is no direct evidence of his guilt. The only scientific evidence linking Gary to the case was offered by a now disgraced state medical examiner who lied on the stand and was stripped of his medical license. Moreover, there are other credible suspects who had motive and opportunity to commit Tommy’s murder.
With the death penalty in Tennessee reserved for only the most certain and heinous of circumstances, the State should not put to death a man whose conviction is flawed in so many ways and where so many questions still remain 30 years later. Gary should not be put to death.
TAKE ACTION: Sign and share the petition asking Governor Lee to commute Gary’s sentence to life.
Learn more about Gary’s case at https://www.justiceforgarywaynesutton.com/
Pervis Payne
To sign a petition on behalf of Pervis Payne, visit pervispayne.org. You can find a sample letter for Governor Lee on this site under “Petitions to Governor.”