The Oklahoma Department of Corrections has announced a reversal of its decision to deny death-row inmate Scott Eizember's spiritual adviser access to the execution chamber.

“The family members of the victims in this case are ready for closure, and they understand that the lawsuit challenging the decision to deny chamber access to the activist could lead to Thursday’s execution being stayed,” Oklahoma Department of Corrections Director Steven Harpe said in a statement. “Far too often, it is the victim and the victim’s family who are overlooked in these cases. We want to make sure their concerns are heard instead of everything being solely about the inmate.”

The decision comes after Eizember's spiritual adviser, Jeffrey K. Hood, had filed a lawsuit Monday in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma. Hood said Eizember was originally told by prison officials that his request to have Hood in the chamber with him was denied.

"I count it a great honor to have fought for and secured the religious liberty of Scott Eizember and myself," Hood said in a statement after the decision was announced Wednesday. "While the struggle to abolish the death penalty continues, I take great satisfaction in knowing that the Department of Corrections of the State of Oklahoma will think twice before denying another pastor access to the execution chamber."

The state began allowing spiritual advisers into the execution chamber in December 2021, according to a DOC spokesman. The first inmate to exercise the option was Bigler Stouffer. 

Eizember's execution is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester.

Protesters plan vigils starting at 9 a.m. Thursday outside the Governor's Mansion and near the prison in McAlester. A memorial vigil would be at 5 p.m. Thursday at Clark United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City. 

Eizember is set to die for the 2003 beating death of A.J. Cantrell in Depew. He also was sentenced to 150 years for the slaying of Patsy Cantrell, A.J.’s wife.

Eizember was subject to one of the largest manhunts in Oklahoma history following the slayings. He was apprehended after kidnapping another couple and beating them.

He was pursuing his ex-girlfriend, Kathy Biggs, who now goes by Smith. Biggs had a protective order against Eizember at the time. He shot Biggs’ son and beat her mother, both of whom survived.

Name: John Fitzgerald Hanson

Offense: First-degree murder

County convicted: Tulsa

Conviction date: 05/23/2001, 01/24/2006

On death row since: 2002. He has exhausted his court appeals and has an execution date set for Dec. 15, 2022. Because he remains in federal custody, and the current administration has established a moratorium on the death penalty, the Bureau of Prisons has said it will not release Hanson to the state for execution.

Name: Richard Glossip

Birthdate: 02/09/1953

Offense: First-degree murder, two death sentences

County Convicted: Oklahoma

Conviction date: 06/01/1998, 08/27/2004

On death row since: 08/31/1998. He has exhausted his court appeals and has had his execution date moved multiple times to allow time for the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals to address pending legal proceedings. Glossip is currently set to be executed Feb. 16, 2023.

Name: Scott Eizember

Birthdate:  01/10/1961

Offense: First-degree murder

County Convicted: Canadian

Conviction date: 03/24/2005

On death row since: 03/28/2005. He has exhausted his court appeals and has an execution date set Jan. 12, 2023.

Name: Anthony Sanchez

Birthdate: 11/01/1978

Offense: First-degree murder

County Convicted: Cleveland

Conviction date: 06/06/2006

On death row since: 6/7/2006. He has exhausted his court appeals. His execution is set for April 6, 2023.

Name: Alfred Mitchell

Birthdate: 12/23/1972

Offense: First-degree murder

County Convicted: Oklahoma

Conviction date: 07/10/1992

On death row since: 7/15/1992. Click here to read more. He has exhausted his court appeals. His execution is set for Oct. 3, 2024.

Name: Marlon Harmon

Birthdate: 07/12/1980

Offense: First-degree murder

County Convicted: Oklahoma

Conviction date: 07/02/2008

On death row since: 07/14/2008. Click here to read more. He has exhausted his court appeals. His execution is set for Dec. 5, 2024.

Name: Carlos Cuesta-Rodriguez

Birthdate: 10/04/1955

Offense: First-degree murder

County Convicted: Oklahoma

Conviction date: 08/15/2007

On death row since: 8/20/2007. He has exhausted his court appeals. His execution is set for June 6, 2024.

Name: Clarence Goode Jr.

Birthdate: 04/22/1976

Offense: First-degree murder, three death sentences

County Convicted: Tulsa

Conviction date: 12/10/2007

On death row since: 1/14/2008. He has exhausted his appeals. His execution is set for June 6, 2024.

Name: Emmanuel Littlejohn

Birthdate: 11/09/1971

Offense: First-degree murder

County Convicted: Oklahoma

Conviction date: 11/23/1994

On death row since: 11/30/1994. He has exhausted his court appeals. His execution is set for Nov. 2, 2023.

Name: James Pavatt

Birthdate: 11/10/1953

Offense: First-degree murder

County Convicted: Oklahoma

Conviction date: 10/21/2003

Death row rulings: Put on death row in 2003, Pavatt had his death sentence overturned in 2017. A federal court overturned that ruling, reinstating Pavatt's death sentence on June 27, 2019. His appeals have been exhausted. His execution is set for July 11, 2024.

Name: James Ryder

Birthdate: 03/30/1962

Offense: First-degree murder

County Convicted: Pittsburg

Conviction date: 06/21/2000

On death row since:  6/23/2000. He has exhausted his court appeals. His execution is set for June 1, 2023.

Name: Jemaine Cannon

Birthdate: 11/13/1971

Offense: First-degree murder

County Convicted: Tulsa

Conviction date: 03/26/1995

On death row since: 4/8/1996. He has exhausted his court appeals. His execution is set for March 9, 2023.

Name: Kendrick Simpson

Birthdate: 10/02/1980

Offense: First-degree murder, two death sentences

County Convicted: Oklahoma

Conviction date: 10/26/2007

On death row since: 11/5/2007. His execution is set for March 7, 2024.

Name: Kevin Underwood

Birthdate: 12/19/1979

Offense: First-degree murder

County Convicted: Cleveland

Conviction date: 04/03/2008

On death row since: 04/07/2008. His execution is set for Dec. 7, 2023.

Name: Michael D. Smith

Birthdate: 06/24/1982

Offense: First-degree murder, two death sentences

County Convicted: Oklahoma

Conviction date: 10/14/2003

On death row since: 10/20/2003. He has exhausted his court appeals. His execution is set for July 6, 2023.

Name: Phillip Hancock

Birthdate: 02/15/1964

Offense: First-degree murder, two death sentences

County Convicted: Oklahoma

Conviction date: 10/25/2004

On death row since: 11/01/2004. He has exhausted his court appeals. His execution is set for May 4, 2023.

Name: Raymond Johnson

Birthdate: 03/25/1974

Offense: First-degree murder, two death sentences

County Convicted: Tulsa

Conviction date: 07/28/2009

On death row since: 08/10/2009. His execution is set for May 2, 2024.

Name: Richard Rojem Jr.

Birthdate: 12/19/1957

Offense: First-degree murder

County Convicted: Washington

Conviction date: 07/15/1985

On death row since: 07/15/1985. He has exhausted his court appeals. His execution is set for Oct. 5, 2023.

Name: Ricky Malone

Birthdate: 06/10/1974

Offense: First-degree murder

County Convicted: Comanche

Conviction date: 06/16/2005

On death row since: 06/20/2005. SCOTUS denied certiorari 10/7/2019.

Name: Ronson Bush

Birthdate: 05/15/1977

Offense: First-degree murder

County Convicted: Grady

Conviction date: 10/29/2009

On death row since: 11/13/2009. Click here to read more. His execution is set for Sept. 5, 2024.

Name: Termane Wood

Birthdate: 10/09/1979

Offense: First-degree murder

County Convicted: Oklahoma

Conviction date: 05/07/2004

On death row since: 05/17/2004. He has exhausted his appeals. His execution is set for Feb. 8, 2024.

Name: Wade Lay

Birthdate: 02/28/1961

Offense: First-degree murder

County Convicted: Tulsa

Conviction date: 10/24/2005

On death row since: 10/31/2005. He has exhausted his appeals. His execution is set for Aug. 3, 2023.

Name: Wendell Grissom

Birthdate: 10/11/1968

Offense: First-degree murder

County Convicted: Blaine

Conviction date: 06/17/2008

On death row since: 06/30/2008. His execution is set for Jan. 11, 2024.

Scott Crow said inmate John Marion Grant was sedated when his body reacted to the first lethal injection drug.

Death row inmate Scott Eizember and his spiritual adviser are suing the Oklahoma Department of Corrections for refusing to allow the minister into the execution chamber Thursday.

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