Julius Jones updates – Kim Kardashian says she ‘spent most of my day’ on phone to Oklahoma inmate as sentence commuted

JONES’ SUPPORTERS CELEBRATE COMMUTATION

Supporters of Julius Jones were pictured rejoicing after Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt granted clemency for Jones, who was sentenced to death for the 1999 fatal shooting of Paul Howell.

JONES’ MOTHER’S STATEMENT ON HIS COMMUTATION

Madeline David-Jones spoke about her son’s commutation on Thursday.

“For over twenty years, I have been haunted by the idea of watching my baby boy die in an execution chamber for a murder that occurred when he was home with his family. I am grateful that after today’s decision by the governor, that can no longer happen,” read her statement.

WHY WAS JULIUS JONES ON DEATH ROW?

Jones was arrested and charged with murder in 1999 when 45-year-old businessman Paul Howell was shot in his 1997 GMC Suburban less than 20 miles away from Jones’ home.

Howell’s sister described the shooter as “a black man wearing a stocking cap” with “half an inch of hair hanging out,” his attorney Dale Baich told OU Daily in December 2019.

Three suspects interviewed by Edmonton Police pinned Jones and a high school basketball teammate, Christopher Jordan, as the alleged carjacking murderers.

Despite a lack of evidence to directly connect Jones to Howell’s killing, he was sentenced to death and 40 years in prison in 2002.

WHICH STATES HAVE ABOLISHED THE DEATH PENALTY?

23 states and DC have abolished the death penalty:

• Alaska
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• DC
• Hawaii
• Illinois
• Iowa
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Dakota
• Rhode Island
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin

HOW MANY STATES HAVE A MORATORIUM ON THE DEATH PENALTY?

Three states have a moratorium on the death penalty:

• California
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania

THANK YOU, KIM

People are thanking Kim Kardashian for using her platform to raise awareness of Julius Jones’ case.

WHICH STATES HAVE THE DEATH PENALTY?

24 states currently have the death penalty:

• Alabama
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Florida
• Georgia
• Idaho
• Indiana
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Wyoming

PEOPLE CALL TO ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY

In the wake of Julius Jones’ death sentence being commuted to life, people are calling for the death penalty to be abolished altogether.

Currently, 24 states have the death penalty and 3 others have a moratorium on it.

IS KEVIN STITT MARRIED AND DOES HE HAVE ANY CHILDREN?

When Stitt is not working, he can typically be found spending time with his wife.

Since 1998, Stitt has been married to Sarah Stitt who had previously spent 20 years “cultivating a friendly work environment at Gateway Mortgage that helped employees grow spiritually,” according to her bio.

She currently chairs the board of Friends of the Mansion and is overseeing the renovation of the Governor’s Mansion, “with the intention of bringing the home back to its original structure and restoring its historical value.”

Throughout the course of their marriage, they have welcomed six children together including: Natalie, Drew, Kate, Piper, Remington and Houston.

MAINTAINED HIS INNOCENCE

Jones has maintained he is innocent, claiming his co-defendant shot and killed Howell and pinned the slaying on him.

He filed for clemency in October 2019 after exhausting all of his options to fight the death penalty.

His clemency report said, as reported by OU Daily: “As God is my witness, I was not involved in any way in the crimes that led to Paul Howell being shot and killed.

“I have spent the past 20 years on death row for a crime I did not commit, did not witness, and was not at.”

JULIUS JONES’ DEATH SENTENCE IS COMMUTED

Julius Jones’ death sentence has been commuted by Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt just hours before the convicted murderer was set to be executed.

Jones, 40, who has spent nearly 20 years on death row, was convicted in the 1999 slaying of 45-year-old Oklahoma businessman Paul Howell.

“After prayerful consideration and reviewing materials presented by all sides of this case, I have determined to commute Julius Jones‘ sentence to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole,” Stitt said in a statement.

As a condition of granting clemency, Stitt ordered that Jones shall never be eligible to apply for or be considered for a commutation, pardon or parole for the rest of his life.

STATEMENT FROM PAUL HOWELL’S FAMILY

Paul Howell’s family has released a statement regarding Gov. Kevin Stitt’s decision.

“We know Governor Stitt had a difficult decision to make. We take comfort that his decision affirmed the guilt of Julius Jones and that he shall not be eligible to apply for, or be considered for, a commutation, pardon or parole for the remainder of his life.

We would like to thank the countless people in the Oklahoma Attorney General’s office, the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office and law enforcement agencies across the state for their tireless efforts and unwavering support for the last 22 years.

Julius Jones forever changed our lives and the lives of his family and friends.”

KIM KARDASHIAN STATEMENT ON JULIUS JONES

Kim Kardashian shared the news of Jones’ sentence being commuted to life through her Instagram stories.

“Thank you so much Governor Stitt for commuting Julius Jones’ sentence to life without parole and stopping his execution today.”

Kim added that she had been on the phone with Jones for most of the day yesterday.

“While I was on the phone with him, somebody came in the room to try to give him his anti-anxiety meds that you usually are forced to take before you are executed,” she explained.

Kim said that Jones refused to take the medication because he has a “clear conscience” which gives him peace.

STATEMENT FROM OKLAHOMA ATTORNEY GENERAL

WHAT DID KEVIN STITT SAY ABOUT JULIUS JONES?

In 2002, Julius Jones, 40, was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death at just 22 years old for the killing of 45-year-old businessman Paul Howell.

On October 27, 2021, Jones was granted a stay of execution which was later overturned by the state attorney general’s office however, on November 18, the same day as his execution, Stitt spared Jones’ life.

The decision comes after Jones’ sister, Antoinette, and a group of spiritual leaders were unable to meet with the governor on Tuesday in an effort to overturn the execution.

“After prayerful consideration and reviewing materials presented by all sides of this case, I have determined to commute Julius Jones’ sentence to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole,” Stitt said in a statement.

The Pardon and Parole Board’s recommendation was to reduce Jones’ sentence to life in prison with the possibility of parole, which would have been immediately eligible for.

WHO IS OKLAHOMA GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT?

Kevin Stitt made headlines on November 18, 2021, after he commuted Julius Jones’ death sentence.

Jones was set to be executed later that day but will now serve a life sentence without the possibility of parole.

Born December 28, 1972, Stitt, 48, is known as an American businessman and politician who is currently serving as Oklahoma’s governor.

Outside of politics he is known as the former chairman and CEO of Gateway Mortgage Group, a company in which he founded.

PAUL HOWELL’S FAMILY INFORMED OF GOV. KEVIN STITT’S DECISION

SUPPORTERS CELEBRATE GOVERNOR’S DECISION

BREAKING: JULIUS JONES’ SENTENCE COMMUTED TO LIFE

Julius Jones’ sentence has been commuted to life without the possibility of parole.

WHO IS JULIUS JONES’ SISTER ANTOINETTE JONES?

Antoinette Jones has been active in fighting to overturn her brother’s death sentence.

On Twitter, Antoinette has started a page dedicated to seeking justice for Julius.

The bio on the page reads, “On here for #Justice4Julius justiceforjuliusjones.com.”

Antoinette has expressed her family’s renewed sense of optimism, especially after the case of her brother caught the attention of Kim Kardashian, who met with her brother in November.

WHO WAS PAUL HOWELL? (CONTINUED)

Three suspects interviewed by Edmonton Police pinned Jones and a high school basketball teammate, Christopher Jordan, as the alleged carjacking murderers.

Despite a lack of evidence to directly connect Jones to Howell’s killing, he was sentenced to death and 40 years in prison in 2002.

Jordan was the state’s key witness against him, and advocates for Jones say his case has been tainted by racial discrimination.

“We have serious concerns by the way the evidence was collected, handled, and stored,” Baich said, claiming that Jones was targeted by “self-proclaimed car thugs and a gang member”.

Despite an agreement that Jordan would serve 30 years in exchange for his testimony, he walked free after serving half of that time, according to an overview of his case on JusticeForJuliusJones.com.

WHO WAS PAUL HOWELL?

Howell was an Oklahoma City businessman who was brutally murdered in front of his kids on July 28, 1999.

He was just 45 at the time of his death and was dating Connie Ellison.

According to News On 6, Howell was returning from a shopping trip with his sister Megan and daughters Rachel, nine, and seven-year-old Abby, when he was shot in the drive to his parents home.

Howell’s sister described the shooter as “a black man wearing a stocking cap” with “half an inch of hair hanging out,” his attorney Dale Baich told OU Daily in December 2019.

‘TRAINED TO PUT HIM TO HIS DEATH’

Kim continued to lay out what Julius Jones’ execution will be like if it moves forward on Thursday.

She noted that his “organs are not eligible for donation,” like all incarcerated individuals who are executed by the Oklahoma Dept of Corrections.

“The staff who will administer his execution are being selected and trained to put him to his death,” she wrote.

“On Thursday, the Inspector General will obtain the body bag and tag from the medical examiner’s office and all witnesses for the execution will be selected,” she wrote. “Next week, they will restrict access to the unit where Julius is housed and they will perform equipment checks.”

‘BENT ON VENGEANCE’

Kim Kardashian continued in the next tweet, “Julius is being closely monitored by staff – every meal he has and every liquid he consumes is logged.”

“His personal property has been catalogued and he has designated who is to receive it after he is put to death. He has also designated who will receive his remains.”

“The state is so bent on vengeance that they will make every effort to ensure they get to kill Julius- including reviving him if he happens to go into cardiac arrest prior to the execution,” she added, alongside a screenshot outlining that procedure.