Murder of Felicia Gayle#Execution of Williams

{{Infobox civilian attack

| location = University City, Missouri, U.S.

| date = {{Start date and age|August 11, 1998}}

| image = Felicia Gayle photo.png

| caption = Undated photo of Gayle

| type = Homicide by stabbing

| convicted = Marcellus Williams

| verdict =

| convictions = First-degree murder{{Infobox event

| title =

| child = yes

| sentence = Death

}}

Felicia "Lisha" Anne Gayle Picus ({{Née|Gayle}}; 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.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Jordan |date=2024-01-14 |title=Crime Scene DNA Didn't Match Marcellus Williams. Missouri May Fast-Track His Execution Anyway. |url=https://theintercept.com/2024/01/14/missouri-dna-marcellus-williams-execution/ |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=The Intercept |language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite news |last1=Peterson |first1=Deborah |last2=Williams |first2=Lance |date=1998-08-13 |title=Police check out leads in slaying of former Post-Dispatch reporter |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-1998-felicia-gay/26014664/ |access-date=2024-09-24 |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |pages=39}}

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.{{cite web |url=https://apnews.com/article/missouri-execution-marcellus-williams-fd7279d8e885bac17658a66f6f72b5c7 |title=A Missouri man has been executed for a 1998 murder. Was he guilty or innocent? |date = September 25, 2024 |website=Associated Press }}{{cite web |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/9/25/why-was-marcellus-williams-executed-what-to-know-about-the-missouri-case |title=Why was Marcellus Williams executed? What to know about the Missouri case |last=Melimopoulos |first=Elizabeth |date=2024-09-25 |website=Al Jazeera |access-date=2024-09-26}} 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. The court rejected these arguments, finding no abuse of discretion by the trial court and that the additional DNA on the murder weapon was the prosecutor's which adhered when handling the evidence. 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.{{Cite web |last=Yan |first=Holly |date=2024-09-24 |title=Marcellus Williams |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/24/us/marcellus-williams-scheduled-execution-date/index.html |access-date=2024-09-25 |website=CNN |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-09-25 |title=Missouri man convicted of murder executed after prosecutor tried to stop it |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/attorneys-missouri-death-row-inmate-seek-stop-execution-rcna172229 |access-date=2024-09-25 |website=NBC News |language=en}}

Background

=Felicia Gayle=

Felicia Anne Gayle was born on February 6, 1956, in Rockford, Illinois, where she was also raised.{{Cite journal |date=1998-08-15 |title=Felicia A. (Picus) Gayle, 42 |url=https://rrstar.newsbank.com/doc/image/v2%3A13544BF187CDD587%40NGPA-ILRRS-13900EE2C4B1B330%402451040-13900B8494A42151%4045-13900B8494A42151%40?content_added=&date_from=&date_to=&pub%255B0%255D=13544BF187CDD587&page=12&pdate=1998-08-14 |journal=Rockford Register-Star |pages=13 |url-access=subscription}} She graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in journalism before working as a reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, where she stayed until 1992. She left the newspaper to pursue more philanthropy and volunteer work, which included mentoring and tutoring disadvantaged children.{{Cite news |last=Alund |first=Natalie Neysa |date=September 24, 2024 |title=Marcellus Williams executed in Missouri amid strong innocence claims: 'It is murder' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/09/24/missouri-execution-marcellus-williams-lisha-gayle/75298897007/ |access-date=October 7, 2024 |work=USA Today}}{{cite web |date=30 June 2023 |title=Death penalty case to continue against man citing new DNA evidence in stabbing death of former St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/death-penalty-case-marcellus-williams-dna-evidence-murder-lisha-gayle-missouri/ |access-date=29 March 2024 |website=CBSnews.com |publisher=Associated Press}} In 1979, she married Dr. Daniel Picus, who led the interventional radiology department at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-24 |title=Family of Missouri woman murdered in home 'exasperated' as execution approaches |url=https://www.aol.com/family-missouri-woman-murdered-home-214115089.html |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=www.aol.com |language=en-US}}

=Marcellus Williams=

Marcellus Williams was born on December 30, 1968, in South Bend, Indiana. At the age of five, he and his mother, along with his two brothers, moved to St. Louis, Missouri.{{cite web |last=Alund |first=Natalie Neysa Alund |date=September 23, 2024 |title=Missouri set to execute 'loving father' whose DNA wasn't on murder weapon, attorneys say |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/09/23/missouri-execution-marcellus-williams-death-row/75194051007/ |access-date=September 27, 2024 |publisher=USA Today}} Growing up in a troubled and impoverished household, Williams faced early exposure to alcohol, drugs, and guns, and was subjected to violent sexual and physical abuse from family members. His parents abandoned him, and criminal behavior and substance abuse were prevalent in his family.{{cite web |date=2011-12-13 |title=Court of Appeals, 8th Circuit 2012 |url=https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=5329012931634188656&q=695+F.3d+825&hl=en&as_sdt=4%2C85%2C87%2C92%2C97%2C113%2C128%2C148%2C150%2C155%2C160%2C256%2C257%2C273%2C274%2C284%2C285%2C319%2C320%2C336%2C337%2C347%2C348%2C382 |access-date=2024-09-27 |website=Google Scholar}} The defence said that after becoming a father and marrying a single mother with a daughter, Williams was profoundly affected by the death of his older brother in 1997, who had served as a father figure. That same year, he burglarized a home and was incarcerated for armed robbery of a donut shop in 1998. In total, Williams had sixteen criminal convictions prior to his murder trial: second degree burglary and stealing over $150 in 1988; second degree assault in 1988; second degree burglary in 1988; two counts each of second degree burglary and stealing over $150 in 1991; first degree robbery, armed criminal action, and unlawful use of a weapon in 2000; and first degree robbery, armed criminal action, stealing a motor vehicle, and two counts of false imprisonment in 2000.{{Cite web|url=https://casetext.com/case/williams-v-roper-6|title=Williams v. Roper, 695 F.3d 825 | Casetext Search + Citator|website=casetext.com}}

While in prison, Williams studied Islam and wrote poetry. He was also disciplined over 100 times while incarcerated, including verbal and physical altercations with inmates and corrections officers, and a threat to kill a corrections officer at the St. Louis City Workhouse in 1999.

Murder

Gayle's body was discovered by her husband at her home on the evening of August 11, 1998. Police arrived to the scene at around 8 p.m., officers found Gayle in a fetal position with her left side covered in blood.{{Cite web |last=Millitzer |first=Joe |date=2024-09-24 |title=The 1998 police reports from the night of Lisha Gayle's death |url=https://fox2now.com/news/missouri/the-1998-police-reports-from-the-night-of-lisha-gayles-death/ |website=FOX 2 Now}} She had been stabbed up to 43 times and a large butcher’s knife was found lodged in her neck.{{Cite news |last=Peterson |first=Deborah |last2=Williams |first2=Lance |date=August 13, 1998 |title=Police check out leads in slaying of former Post-Dispatch reporter |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-1998-felicia-gay/26014664/ |access-date=September 26, 2024 |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |pages=39}}{{Cite web |last=mikeeves@wxhc.com |date=2024-09-25 |title=Marcellus Williams executed by lethal injection in Missouri after SCOTUS denied appeals |url=https://www.wxhc.com/marcellus-williams-executed-by-lethal-injection-in-missouri-after-scotus-denied-appeals/ |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=X101 Always Classic - WXHC.com |language=en-US}} She also had stab wounds to her back, thigh, and two more in her neck, authorities described defensive wounds to her hands and arms including a large gash in her right elbow. Her purse, jacket, and her husband's Macintosh computer were stolen. Investigators noted in the initial police report that this came amidst a burglary spree in the neighborhood.

Investigation and trial

In May 1999, Gayle's family announced a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-slayings-police/46010877/|title=Police no longer believe 2 slayings are linked |last=Skrivan| first=Laurie| work=St Louis Post-Dispatch|date=17 May 1999|access-date=29 March 2024}} Two individuals, Henry Cole and Laura Asaro, named Marcellus Scott Williams as the culprit. Cole received a $5,000 reward for his testimony, while Asaro did not request any reward for coming forward. Williams had an extensive criminal record. Cole volunteered that Williams had made a jailhouse confession to him when both were in jail on charges unrelated to the murder. Cole had already been released before volunteering his information. Williams had started serving a 20-year sentence for robbing a donut shop.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Jordan |date=2024-01-14 |title=Crime A trace amount of DNA on the knife handle could not be matched to Marcellus Williams. Missouri May Fast-Track His Execution Anyway. |url=https://theintercept.com/2024/01/14/missouri-dna-marcellus-williams-execution/ |access-date=2024-07-28 |website=The Intercept |language=en-US}} Laura Asaro, the girlfriend of Williams at the time of the crime, gave testimony that Williams had confessed to her and detailed what had happened. Asaro testified that she found a purse with Gayle's identification in Williams' car. She also testified that she saw scratches on Williams' neck, blood on his shirt, and a laptop in his car. Unlike Cole's deposition, which was compatible with news reports, she is said to have provided details that had not been mentioned in the public accounts of the crime.{{cite web |last=Mittman |first=Jeffrey |date=20 August 2017 |title=Opinion: Stop the execution of Marcellus Williams |url=http://www.stltoday.com/opinion/columnists/stop-the-execution-of-marcellus-williams/article_f2788740-6f60-58a3-b50c-7d3dffd70e96.html |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820065904/https://www.stltoday.com/opinion/columnists/stop-the-execution-of-marcellus-williams/article_f2788740-6f60-58a3-b50c-7d3dffd70e96.html |archive-date=2017-08-20 |access-date=23 August 2017 |website=St. Louis Post-Dispatch }}

Prosecutors described physical evidence at the crime scene itself as inconclusive, as a shoeprint, fingerprints, and hair found at the scene did not match Williams. A knife found at the scene had traces of DNA, but due to the killer wearing gloves, it only matched those of prosecution team members who handled it after it had been forensically tested and found to have no fingerprints on it.

A search of Williams' car turned up a St. Louis Post-Dispatch ruler and calculator that had belonged to Gayle. A laptop stolen from Gayle was also recovered from a man who testified that Williams had sold the victim’s laptop to him.

Williams was convicted of first-degree murder in 2001, and received a death sentence.

Death penalty, dates, and stays

=Initial death sentence and appeals=

Williams was held on death row at Potosi Correctional Center after his trial. He maintained his innocence in the Gayle case until he accepted an Alford plea of guilty in August 2024. His case was appealed unsuccessfully several times. He was first scheduled to be executed by lethal injection in 2015.{{cite web |last=Levin |first=Sam |date=2024-09-24 |title=Missouri to execute Marcellus Williams despite prosecutors' objections and innocence claims |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/sep/24/missouri-to-execute-marcellus-williams-prosecutors-objections-innocence-claims |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=The Guardian}} In appeals, his defense produced evidence that DNA taken from the knife at the scene revealed an unknown male profile (later revealed to belong to the male prosecutor who had handled the knife) and did not match that of Williams.{{cite web |author= |date=1 February 2024 |title=After Attorney General's Request for Execution Date, St. Louis County Prosecutor Files Motion to Vacate Marcellus Williams' Death Sentence |url=https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/news/after-attorney-generals-request-for-execution-date-st-louis-county-prosecutor-files-motion-to-vacate-marcellus-williams-death-sentence |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240703205707/https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/news/after-attorney-generals-request-for-execution-date-st-louis-county-prosecutor-files-motion-to-vacate-marcellus-williams-death-sentence |archive-date=2024-07-03 |access-date=28 March 2024 |website= |publisher=Death Penalty Information Center}}{{cite web | last=Zhou | first=Li | title=Why there are urgent calls to halt Marcellus Williams's imminent execution | website=Vox | date=2024-09-24 | url=https://www.vox.com/criminal-justice/373568/marcellus-williams-death-penalty-missouri | access-date=2024-09-24}} Despite this, Williams was rescheduled for execution on August 22, 2017.

=2017 execution stay=

Questions continued to be raised as the state Supreme Court would neither hear the new DNA evidence nor stay the execution. The prosecutor said they were confident about the case despite the DNA, as DNA evidence had never formed any part of the basis of the conviction.{{cite web |last=Regnier |first=Chris |date=22 August 2017 |title=Missouri is set to execute a convicted killer. His lawyers say new DNA evidence proves he's innocent |url=https://fox2now.com/news/missouri-prepares-to-execute-its-2nd-inmate-of-2017/ |access-date=29 March 2024 |website=KTVI |publisher=CNN Wires}} Gov. Eric Greitens issued a last-minute stay of execution that day.{{cite web |last=Kohler |first=Jeremy |date=August 18, 2017 |title=Death row inmate asks U.S. Supreme Court to stop his execution for former P-D reporter's murder |url=http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/death-row-inmate-asks-u-s-supreme-court-to-stop/article_a9715d6f-c333-584d-838d-04b093218699.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180525061105/https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/death-row-inmate-asks-u-s-supreme-court-to-stop/article_a9715d6f-c333-584d-838d-04b093218699.html |archivedate=May 25, 2018 |access-date=August 23, 2017 |newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch}} The governor initiated a Board of Inquiry to examine the new DNA evidence and other aspects of the case.{{cite web |date=August 22, 2017 |title=Marcellus Williams: Missouri governor stays execution |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-41017985 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824220150/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41017985 |archive-date=2017-08-24 |access-date=August 23, 2017 |website=BBC News |publisher=}} The Board was headed by Carol E. Jackson, former federal judge of the Eastern District of Missouri, and consisted of five retired federal judges to review the case.{{Cite web |last=Mannies |first=Jo |date=2017-09-12 |title=Missouri governor names panel to examine new DNA evidence in Marcellus Williams' case |url=https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/missouri-governor-names-panel-examine-new-dna-evidence-marcellus-williams-case |website=St. Louis Public Radio}} It subpoenaed both prosecution and defense.{{Cite web |last=Didcock |first=James |date=2018-04-26 |title=Marcellus Williams: Board of Inquiry Set to Meet with State and Defence Attorneys in June |url=https://criminaljusticereformjournal.com/2018/04/26/marcellus-williams-board-of-inquiry-set-to-meet-with-state-and-defence-attorneys-in-june/ |website=Criminal Justice Reform Journal}}{{Cite web |date=14 June 2018 |title=After governor's resignation, fate of Missouri man on death row in doubt |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/marcellus-williams-death-row-future-unclear/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630013439/https://criminaljusticereformjournal.wordpress.com/2018/04/26/marcellus-williams-board-of-inquiry-set-to-meet-with-state-and-defence-attorneys-in-june/ |archive-date=2022-06-30 |website=CBS News}} The Board was also to meet with the state and defense attorneys in June 2018. Greitens resigned as governor in June 2018. The DNA evidence and new analysis did not match that of Williams (it was later revealed to belong to the prosecutor who mishandled the knife after it was seized as evidence). The Board had hearings in August 2018. Governor Mike Parson was to receive the Board's conclusion and make his decision.{{Cite web |last=Marshall |first=Griffin |date=2018-08-22 |title=Williams death penalty review panel hears new evidence |url=https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/williams-death-penalty-review-panel-hears-new-evidence#stream/0 |access-date=September 25, 2024 |website=St. Louis Public Radio}}

==Dissolution of Inquiry Board==

In June 2023, Parson decided to dissolve the panel of five judges without receiving their report and lifted the stay on Williams' execution as he claimed it was time for the court to make a decision. Later, State Attorney General Andrew Bailey asked the state Supreme Court to set a date for Williams' execution.{{cite web|url=https://theintercept.com/2024/01/14/missouri-dna-marcellus-williams-execution/|title=Crime Scene DNA Didn't Match Marcellus Williams. Missouri May Fast-Track His Execution Anyway.|last=Swain |first= Jordan| date=14 January 2024|publisher = The Intercept| access-date= 29 March 2024}}

=2023 Midwest Innocence Project lawsuit=

In August 2023, The Midwest Innocence Project filed a lawsuit, stating that the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney is on record as stating he has convincing evidence of Williams' innocence and questioned the governors right regarding the dissolution of the inquiry board.{{Cite web |last=Czachor |first=Emily Mae |date=2024-06-05 |title=Missouri sets execution date for death row inmate Marcellus Williams, despite doubts over DNA evidence |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/marcellus-williams-execution-missouri-death-row/ |access-date=2024-07-28 |website=CBS News |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Execution date set for Missouri inmate, even as he awaits hearing on claim of actual innocence |url=https://apnews.com/article/missouri-death-row-inquiry-board-state-supreme-court-0103d6047d1caa04eefbb6ef262063fb |last=Salter |first=Jim |date=2024-06-04 |website=Associated Press}} The Innocence Project alleged that the Missouri Attorney General's Office has a record of dismissing DNA evidence that points to an accused person's innocence.Innocence Project:'In a 2003 oral argument before the Missouri Supreme Court, Justice Laura Denvir Stith asked Assistant Attorney General Frank Jung, "Are you suggesting … even if we find that Mr. Amrine is actually innocent, he should be executed?" "That is correct, your honor," Jung replied. The Missouri Supreme Court ultimately disagreed, and Mr. Amrine was exonerated. But over 20 years later, the same arguments are still being made..'

=2024 motion to vacate=

On January 27, 2024, St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell filed a motion in the St. Louis County Circuit Court, asking the Court to vacate Marcellus Williams' death sentence. A 2021 Missouri law allows a prosecutor to intervene where there is information suggesting a convicted person may be innocent. He cited potential "ineffective assistance of counsel", apparent bias in jury selection, and potential weakness of the police investigation. He asked the Court for a hearing to consider the new evidence and other aspects of the investigation and trial. The new evidence consisted of a special prosecutor's review of the case, including the findings of 3 independent DNA experts who unanimously concluded that the male DNA on the murder weapon was not Williams'.{{Cite web |last=Bradshaw |first=Robin |date=September 12, 2024 |title=Marcellus Williams faces execution in Missouri despite new DNA evidence |url=https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/marcellus-williams-execution-dna-evidence-19760811.php |access-date=September 24, 2024 |website=The Alton Telegraph}} Rather, it belonged to an investigator and assistant prosecuting attorney who had handled the murder weapon without wearing gloves, after it had been forensically tested.{{Cite web |last1=Heuer |first1=Mike |last2=Coote |first2=Darryl |date=September 24, 2024 |title=Marcellus Williams executed despite contaminated DNA evidence |url=https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2024/09/24/missouri-execution-marcellus-williams/1661727225529/ |access-date=September 24, 2024 |website=United Press International}} A hearing was scheduled for August 21, 2024, to determine his innocence.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-12 |title=Missouri execution plans move forward despite prosecutor trying to overturn murder conviction |url=https://apnews.com/article/marcellus-williams-execution-missouri-innocent-6682d62c804425f6e19f3bb2190343c2 |access-date=2024-07-17 |website=AP News |language=en}}

=Scheduled execution and hearing=

On June 4, 2024, Williams was again scheduled to be executed on September 24, 2024.{{Cite web|last=Schmidt|first=Heidi|date=June 4, 2024|url=https://www.kctv5.com/2024/06/04/missouri-sets-execution-date-inmate-who-claims-innocence/|title=Missouri sets execution date for inmate who claims innocence|work=KCTV 5|access-date=June 5, 2024}} On July 2, the Circuit Court of St. Louis County, Missouri, scheduled a hearing for August 21, 2024, to evaluate the supposed evidence of Williams' innocence.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-15 |title=Who Is Marcellus Williams: Man Facing Execution in Missouri Despite DNA Evidence Proving Innocence |url=https://innocenceproject.org/who-is-marcellus-williams-man-facing-execution-in-missouri-despite-dna-evidence-supporting-innocence/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240324133545/https://innocenceproject.org/who-is-marcellus-williams-man-facing-execution-in-missouri-despite-dna-evidence-supporting-innocence/ |archive-date=2024-03-24 |access-date=2024-07-17 |website=Innocence Project}} On July 12, 2024, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled that his execution would move forward despite the pending lawsuit to overturn his conviction. In the court's opinion overruling the motion, Justice Zel Fischer ruled that "they do not have the procedural authority to withdraw the execution order at this time."

=Alford plea=

On August 21, 2024, Williams accepted a plea bargain offered by the prosecution to commute his death sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole.{{cite news |last=Honderich |first=Holly |date=August 21, 2024 |title=Missouri death row inmate in plea deal to avoid execution |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy9e8ypz4xxo |work=BBC}}{{cite news |last=Andone |first=Dakin |date=August 21, 2024 |title=Missouri death row inmate expected to be resentenced to life without parole under new agreement |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/21/us/marcellus-williams-missouri-death-row/index.html |work=CNN}} The prosecutors argued in favor of Williams during the hearing, pointing out that the DNA on the murder weapon was not his and that they had duly considered this fact before offering him an Alford plea to vacate his death sentence. However, the state attorney general Andrew Bailey opposed this decision and wanted the execution to move forward as scheduled.{{cite news|title=US death row inmate to get life in prison after DNA testing weakens conviction |date=August 22, 2024 |work=The Straits Times |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/world/us-death-row-inmate-to-get-life-in-prison-after-dna-testing-weakens-conviction }}

The Missouri Supreme Court blocked the plea deal agreement on the same day, and Williams' execution date remained September 24, 2024. A hearing was scheduled to consider Williams' claims of innocence.{{cite news|title= Missouri Supreme Court blocks agreement that would have halted execution |date=August 22, 2024 |work=AP News |url= https://apnews.com/article/missouri-death-row-marcellus-williams-4c45626ca0d2614eb03bf65c30ad00cd }}

=Final appeal=

On September 12, 2024, St. Louis County Circuit Judge Bruce Hilton rejected Williams' appeal, stating that the counsel was rehashing their arguments from previous appeals, all of which had been rejected multiple times by the state and federal courts, and ordered that the execution should move forward as scheduled.{{cite news |last=Salter |first=Jim |date=September 12, 2024 |title=Missouri judge rejects innocence claim of Marcellus Williams who faces execution |url=https://apnews.com/article/marcellus-williams-missouri-death-row-32fc5ee044353cf62411089d54bc9d9b |work=Associated Press}}

On September 24, 2024, Parson denied Williams clemency and the case was reviewed by the United States Supreme Court hours before the scheduled execution.{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/missouri-execution-marcellus-williams-8be20e2f252992610a30fa0cfef4185a|title=Missouri inmate's lawyers seek Supreme Court intervention hours before his planned execution|publisher=Associated Press|last1=Lieb|first1=David A.|last2=Salter|first2=Jim|date=September 24, 2024|access-date=September 24, 2024|language=en}} The Supreme Court denied the request to halt the execution, although Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson stated that they would have granted the request.{{Cite web |last=Quinn |first=Melissa |date=2024-09-24 |title=Supreme Court allows execution of Marcellus Williams in Missouri, denying bid for delay |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/marcellus-williams-execution-supreme-court-stay-denied/?ftag=CNM-00-10aab7e&linkId=600426854 |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=CBS News |language=en-US}}

Execution of Williams

Despite pleas from the public, on September 24, 2024, 55-year-old Williams was executed by lethal injection at 6 p.m. at Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Bonne Terre, Missouri.{{Cite news |last1=Lieb |first1=David A. |last2=Salter |first2=Jim |date=2024-09-24 |title=Missouri executes a man for the 1998 killing of a woman despite her family's calls to spare his life |url=https://apnews.com/article/missouri-execution-marcellus-williams-8be20e2f252992610a30fa0cfef4185a |access-date=2024-09-24|work=Associated Press}}{{cite news|title=Missouri man executed despite prosecutor's opposition|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/world/missouri-man-faces-execution-on-tuesday-despite-prosecutors-opposition|work=The Straits Times|date=September 24, 2024 }} For his last meal, Williams was served chicken wings and tater tots.{{Cite news |last1=Quednow |first1=Cindy Von |last2=Yan |first2=Holly |date=2024-09-24 |title=Missouri executes Marcellus Williams despite prosecutors and the victim's family asking that he be spared |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/24/us/marcellus-williams-scheduled-execution-date/index.html |access-date=2024-09-24 |work=CNN}} In a statement, the office of Missouri governor Mike Parson justified Williams' execution, citing among other things his prior criminal record and his alleged behavior in prison which included "attacking other inmates and threatening correctional officers".{{Cite web |date=2024-09-24 |title=State to Carry Out Sentence of Mr. Marcellus Williams According to Supreme Court of Missouri Order {{!}} Governor Michael L. Parson |url=https://governor.mo.gov/press-releases/archive/state-carry-out-sentence-mr-marcellus-williams-according-supreme-court |access-date=2024-09-27 |website=Office of Governor Michael L. Parson |type=Press release}}

Williams had converted to Islam in prison, taking the name Khalifah and becoming an imam leading prayer in his cell block.{{Cite web |last=Dewan |first=Shaila |date=2024-09-24 |title=Missouri Man Executed After Long Fight for Exoneration |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/24/us/marcellus-williams-execution-missouri.html |website=The New York Times}}{{Cite news |last=Levin |first=Sam |date=2024-09-25 |title=Missouri executes Marcellus Williams despite prosecutors' push to overturn conviction |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/sep/24/missouri-executes-marcellus-williams |access-date=2024-09-27 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} Described as a "kind and thoughtful man" by his lead defense attorney, Williams also dedicated his time in prison to poetry, including poetry on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. This garnered his cause attention from the pro-Palestinian movement in the United States, and discussion about Black-Palestinian solidarity.{{Cite web |last=Washington |first=Jonah Valdez, Jessica |date=2024-09-26 |title=“I Saw a Mirror”: Marcellus Williams’s Execution Enrages Palestine Solidarity Protesters |url=https://theintercept.com/2024/09/26/marcellus-williams-palestine/ |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=The Intercept |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Alund |first=Natalie Neysa |date=September 24, 2024 |title=Marcellus Williams executed in Missouri amid strong innocence claims: 'It is murder' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/09/24/missouri-execution-marcellus-williams-lisha-gayle/75298897007/ |access-date=2024-09-27 |website=USA Today |language=en-US}}

Williams' last statement, which was written down and witnessed on September 24, 2024, was, "All Praise Be To Allah In Every Situation!!!". His funeral was held at the Islamic Foundation of Greater St. Louis, where members of the community prayed the Janazah prayer for him and he was buried in the local Islamic cemetery.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8KuP8dnM1k |title=Janazah (Funeral Service) for Br. Khaliifah Marcellus Williams |date=2024-09-25 |last=Islamic Foundation STL |access-date=2025-04-08 |via=YouTube}}