EXECUTION OF ROBERT GLEASON TO OCCUR ON JANUARY 16 AT 9 PM

Federal Judge Glen Conrad has declined to halt the execution of Robert Gleason scheduled for next Wednesday, January 16 at 9 PM. While Mr. Gleason’s attorneys plan to appeal, we believe it is unlikely that another court will intervene to halt the execution.

Mr. Gleason was sentenced to death for the murder of two fellow prison inmates while he was already serving a life sentence for another murder. Mr. Gleason stated that he killed the inmates because he wants to be executed and threatened to keep killing if Virginia does not execute him. VADP opposes all executions. There are no circumstances that justify the state killing its own citizens. Mr. Gleason’s case particularly illustrates the folly of capital punishment. Mr. Gleason killed the two inmates in order to receive a death sentence. If Virginia did not have the death penalty, those two inmates would likely be alive today.

VADP will hold a vigil at the Greensville Correctional Center on the evening of the execution, and there will be other vigils that evening throughout the Commonwealth. Go to our website for details about all the vigils (the link is under the “Get Involved” menu).