The relatives of a Tennessee man facing execution urged Republican Gov. Bill Lee to review his case for a potential pardon during a press conference on Friday.

“I’m pleading with you, Governor Lee. All we’re asking is for you to look at Gary’s case,” Carolyn Miller, part of the “Justice for Gary Wayne Sutton” group, stated.

Gary Wayne Sutton was found guilty of killing siblings Tommy Griffin and Connie Branam in Blount County in 1992. Sutton maintains his innocence, while his supporters claim that the evidence against him is inadequate.

Miller shared with YSL News before the press conference that she was involved with Sutton at the time of the murders and reestablished contact with him after learning he was among the next individuals scheduled for execution.

“We just want the governor to sit down and review this,” Miller explained to YSL News. “If he does, he’ll see the issues we’ve highlighted. He is currently the only one with the authority to help.”

The plea for a thorough review was also voiced by James Sutton, Gary’s 94-year-old father, who addressed the attendees at the press conference.

“It pains me greatly. My son didn’t commit such acts,” Sutton expressed in reference to his son’s conviction.

Press conference emphasizes the suffering of death row families during Christmas

Rev. Jeff Hood, an activist opposed to the death penalty, shared at the press event titled “Not Another Christmas Without Gary” that serving as a spiritual guide for death row inmates during the holidays enhances his commitment to this cause.

“Christmas symbolizes hope for reform in our justice system, suggesting that love can transform even the hardest hearts and restore wholeness,” Hood conveyed to YSL News.

Miller remarked to YSL News how challenging holidays can be for families of death row inmates.

“Holidays are particularly difficult because it’s traditionally a time to be surrounded by loved ones,” Miller noted.

Hood explained that holding the press conference during this festive season adds emphasis to the message advocates wish to share with the governor.

“By saying we won’t allow another Christmas without Gary, we’re recognizing a significant problem. There is a profound injustice here, and we are committed to rectifying it,” Hood emphasized.

Private investigator raises concerns about the state’s case

Heather Cohen, a private investigator based in Tennessee, reiterated earlier critiques concerning the prosecution’s case.

“This is the most severe case of injustice I have ever encountered,” Cohen stated. “Gary exemplifies what is fundamentally wrong with our justice system, showcasing what occurs when investigations lack integrity.”

Supporters of Sutton highlighted inconsistencies in witness testimonies, the arrangement of evidence like shotgun shells, and the revocation of the medical examiner’s license as factors for Gov. Lee to consider when reviewing the case.

“In the South, where I’ve lived in various rural areas, there can be a tendency for hasty judgments due to fear. This has undoubtedly occurred in this situation,” Hood mentioned during the press conference.

Blount County District Attorney Ryan Desmond defended the conviction in a statement to Knoxville station WVLT, highlighting the extensive appeal process the case has undergone.

“Numerous judges have examined his case and determined that the evidence clearly supports his convictions,” Desmond wrote. “This includes evaluations of the so-called ‘new’ evidence suggesting exoneration.”

Gov. Lee decided to halt executions in 2022 and initiated a third-party review of the state’s execution procedures just before the scheduled execution of Oscar Franklin Smith. An investigation by the Tennessean—part of the YSL News Network—discovered that the state and its contractors often strayed from the lethal injection protocols enacted in 2018, potentially leading to the executions of two convicted murderers using drugs that had expired, were compromised, or untested.

In September, Lee stated in an interview with Knoxville’s WATE that the state was “closer than further” to establishing a protocol that would allow executions to resume. Tennessee Department of Correction commissioner Frank Strada informed state legislators in October that the department aimed to finalize the protocol by the end of the year, according to WKRN.