Marcellus Williams | Source: Facebook/innocenceproject
A decades-long saga has come to a tragic end. Marcellus “Khaliifah” Williams, a death row inmate who maintained his innocence until the very end, was executed by the state of Missouri.
On Tuesday, September 24, Marcellus “Khaliifah” Williams faced his final blow. He was executed for the 1998 murder of former newspaper reporter Lisha Gayle, despite growing calls to spare his life.
This happened despite the prosecutor, who once sought his conviction, and the victim’s own family pleading for mercy. They insisted that justice would be better served with Williams’ life spared, but that seems to have fallen on deaf ears.
Throughout his imprisonment, Williams maintained his innocence, a claim his defense team stood by, later finding support from new prosecutors who doubted the original verdict.
Nevertheless, at 6:10 p.m., the 55-year-old became the third person executed in Missouri this year, despite mounting pleas warning that the state was about to make an irreversible mistake. His death marked the 15th execution carried out nationwide in 2024, a somber statistic that adds weight to an already heavy story.
“Tonight, we all bear witness to Missouri’s grotesque exercise of state power,” said Williams’ attorney, Tricia Rojo Bushnell. In a powerful statement, she emphasized how prosecutors had diligently worked to undo Williams’ conviction in hopes of saving his life.
His last moments were marked by quiet reflection with his spiritual advisor, Imam Jalahii Kacem, who spent 90 minutes with Williams before the execution. According to corrections spokesperson Karen Pojmann, his final meal was a simple choice—chicken wings and tater tots—a bittersweet last indulgence.
When asked if he had any final words, Williams’ response was calm, rooted in the faith that had carried him through. “All praise be to Allah in every situation,” he said , a peaceful declaration in the face of a world that, despite the mounting evidence, refused to listen.
