Clemency Denied for Inmate Convicted of 1999 Murder in Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted 3-2 on May 7 to deny clemency for death row inmate George John Hanson, who is scheduled for execution on June 12. Hanson, 60, was convicted for the kidnapping and murder of 77-year-old Mary Bowles in 1999.

During the incident, Hanson and an accomplice carjacked Bowles outside a Tulsa mall, then drove her to a secluded area near Owasso, where she was fatally shot. Before killing Bowles, Hanson and his accomplice, Victor Miller, also shot and killed a bystander, Jerald Thurman.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond stated, “The families of Mary Bowles and Jerald Thurman have waited more than a quarter-century to see justice carried out against this callous murderer. The Biden Administration protected this monster from justice for too long. Now is the time for him to atone for the pain and suffering he has wrought.”

Hanson was moved to Oklahoma’s death row from a federal prison in Louisiana, where he had been serving a life sentence for bank robbery. His fate now rests with Governor Kevin Stitt, who could intervene before the scheduled execution.

Hanson’s attorney, Callie Heller, argued for clemency, citing several factors. She stated, “A more culpable co-defendant is serving life, while Mr. Hanson—who was homeless, developmentally disabled, and never had a full and fair opportunity to present mitigating evidence—is now at risk of execution.” Heller noted that three jurors have raised concerns about their death verdict after learning new facts that were not presented at trial.

During the hearing, Hanson expressed remorse, saying, “I’m not an evil person. I was caught in a situation I couldn’t control.” Despite his claims of regret, family members of the victims have questioned his sincerity, stating he had never reached out to them over the years.

If no intervention occurs, Hanson’s execution will take place at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester on June 12.