A death row inmate in Missouri, slated for execution on Tuesday for the 1998 stabbing death of a former reporter, continues to assert his innocence, maintaining that there is no forensic evidence linking him to the murder.

Marcellus Williams, 55, will be the third inmate executed in Missouri this year, and the 15th or 16th in the United States, depending on whether he dies before or after Travis James Mullis, another inmate slated for execution in Texas on the same day. Following Williams, two more executions are scheduled in Alabama and Oklahoma on Thursday.

Williams was found guilty of killing Lisha Gayle, a former St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter, who was fatally stabbed during a burglary at her home.

The St. Louis County Prosecutor’s Office has expressed support for Williams’ claims of innocence and recently requested to vacate his conviction. A county trial judge approved the motion, which was then challenged by Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey. The case was sent back to the same judge for a hearing, and on September 12, he reversed his earlier decision.

Supporters of Williams who believe in his innocence are actively seeking a stay of execution.

As the date of his execution approaches, YSL News spoke with his legal team and provided background on the case and Williams himself.

Details of Marcellus Williams’ Conviction

On August 11, 1998, Lisha Gayle was in the shower when authorities report that Williams entered her home, located on a private gated street.

The 42-year-old exited the bathroom and was headed down the stairs when she allegedly encountered Williams on the landing. Reports indicate she was stabbed 43 times with a kitchen knife taken from the kitchen.

Initially, no suspects were identified, leading Gayle’s family to offer a $10,000 reward in May 1999 for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

Shortly thereafter, an inmate named Henry Cole and Williams’ girlfriend, Lara Asaro, implicated Williams in the crime. At the time, he was serving a 20-year sentence for robbing a downtown St. Louis donut shop.

No forensic evidence linked Williams to the scene, yet a jury convicted him of murder and burglary.

Williams’ legal team contends that both informants had incentives to cooperate with authorities, and their statements often contradicted one another and other evidence related to the murder. Both witnesses have since passed away.

A Look at Marcellus Williams’ Background

Marcellus Williams was born in South Bend, Indiana, on December 30, 1968, and moved to St. Louis with his mother and two brothers when he was about five years old.

According to court documents, Williams grew up in a troubled household marked by poverty and dysfunction. From a young age, he was exposed to drugs, alcohol, and violence. He endured severe physical and sexual abuse from certain relatives, was abandoned by his parents, and his family environment normalized criminal activities and substance abuse.

The loss of his older brother in 1997 profoundly impacted Williams, as his brother had played a significant role in his life. That same year, Williams committed a burglary and served time in jail before receiving a conviction for the donut shop robbery in 1998.

During the sentencing phase of his trial, Williams’ lawyers presented evidence of his devotion as a “loving and caring father.”

Family members and friends, including his son and stepdaughter, testified about his positive relationships with the children, expressing that his execution would greatly affect his family.

While incarcerated, Williams has dedicated much of his time to studying Islam and writing poetry, as noted by the Innocence Project.

Halting of Williams’ Previous Execution Dates

Williams’ scheduled execution dates were set for January 2015 and August 2017.

Both planned lethal injections were postponed to allow for additional DNA testing and inquiries. The latest delay was issued by former Governor Eric Greitens, who established a board to review the case.

In the summer of 2023, newly inaugurated Governor Mike Parson disbanded the inquiry board and removed the stay. Parson indicated that the court would determine Williams’ destiny, leading the Missouri Supreme Court to issue a third execution warrant against Williams.

What has Williams’ Defense Argued?

In January, Williams’ lawyers submitted a request to overturn his conviction and sentence.

On August 21, a new agreement was reached between the St. Louis County prosecutor Wesley Bell’s office and Williams’ attorneys, allowing Williams to plead no contest to first-degree murder in exchange for a life sentence without the possibility of parole. The victim’s husband, Daniel Picus, approved the plea.

Although Bell sought to overturn the murder conviction, state Attorney General Andrew Bailey contended it should remain in force and instructed St. Louis County Circuit Judge Bruce Hilton — who accepted the plea — to conduct a hearing on the case.

Bailey stated that the defense “constructed a false narrative of innocence to get a convicted murderer off of death row, serving their political motives.”

During the hearing on August 28, a retired prosecutor involved in the case acknowledged that evidence had been improperly handled during the 1998 trial, which might have cleared Williams.

However, on September 12, Judge Hilton refused to overturn Williams’ conviction and sentence, despite concerns regarding DNA evidence related to the knife utilized in the crime. The defense introduced evidence showing that DNA from the knife matched an unknown male profile, not Williams.

“There is no reason for a court to declare that Williams is innocent, and no court has made such a declaration,” Circuit Judge Bruce Hilton stated. “Williams is guilty of first-degree murder and has received a death sentence.”

Williams’ attorney, Tricia Rojo Bushnell, expressed to YSL News that they will pursue additional appeals and seek clemency.

If there is no intervention from the courts or the governor, Williams’ execution is scheduled to occur this week.

Williams Among Five Scheduled Executions in Less Than a Week

Williams is among five inmates slated for execution across the U.S. within a six-day timeframe. The first was Freddie Owens, executed on Friday in South Carolina amid new uncertainties regarding his guilt.

On Tuesday, the same day as Williams’ execution, Texas plans to carry out the execution of Travis James Mullis for the murder of his infant son.

Following the simultaneous executions, two more are anticipated on Thursday. Alabama is preparing to execute Alan Eugene Miller using nitrogen gas for the 1999 shooting deaths of three coworkers, despite concerns regarding his mental health and a witness stating that the previous nitrogen gas execution in January was “horrific.”

Additionally, on Thursday, Oklahoma plans to execute Emmanuel Littlejohn, who was convicted in the death of a convenience store clerk in 1992, although he claims he was not the shooter.

If all five executions proceed as planned, the U.S. will have executed 18 death row inmates this year, with six more executions scheduled before the end of December, and potentially more may be added to the lineup.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for YSL News. Follow her on X @nataliealund.