A request that this article title be changed to Murder of Felicia Gayle and execution of Marcellus Williams is under discussion. Please do not move this article until the discussion is closed. |
Murder of Felicia Gayle | |
---|---|
Location | University City, Missouri, United States |
Date | August 11, 1998 |
Attack type | Homicide by stabbing |
Convicted | Marcellus Williams |
Convictions | First-degree murder |
Sentence | Death |
Felicia "Lisha" Anne Gayle (née Picus; February 6, 1956 – August 11, 1998), was an American journalist murdered during a burglary in her gated community in University City, Missouri, on August 11, 1998.[1] Gayle, a 42-year-old reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, was found dead in her home, having been stabbed up to 43 times with a butcher's knife taken from her kitchen.[2]
Marcellus Williams was charged with and convicted of Gayle's murder. Prosecutors presented evidence that included testimonies of Williams' former cellmate, girlfriend, and a man who testified to Williams selling him Gayle's stolen laptop. Other evidence included Williams's possession of items stolen from Gayle's home.[3][4][5][6] In August 2001, Williams was sentenced to death.
On appeal, he raised several issues, including claims of errors in evidentiary rulings, jury instructions, and victim impact testimony. He also challenged the use of his prior criminal history and alleged improper prosecutorial comments during closing arguments. The death sentence was controversial, as DNA evidence had been claimed to prove his innocence, and Gayle's family repeatedly stated they did not want Williams executed.[7] The court rejected these arguments, finding no abuse of discretion by the trial court. The Missouri Supreme Court rejected Williams's appeal, concluding that the verdict was neither disproportionate nor influenced by prejudice. They concluded that there were sufficient statutory aggravating circumstances, such as the brutality of the crime and Williams' prior convictions. The court affirmed both the conviction and the death sentence. Williams was executed on September 24, 2024, amid ongoing protests.[8][9]
Sep 24
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).cnn-marcellus-williams-scheduled-execution-date
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).ap-missouri-execution-marcellus
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).