Attorney General Gentner Drummond requested on March 13 that the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board deny clemency for Raymond Johnson, who was sentenced to death for the 2007 murders of Brooke Whitaker and her seven-month-old daughter, Kya Whitaker.
The case is significant due to the severity of the crimes and its impact on the victims’ family. The decision by the board will determine whether Johnson’s execution, scheduled for May 14, will proceed as planned.
In his filing, Drummond described the details of the crime and Johnson’s criminal history. “Raymond Johnson is a heinous murderer who violently attacked and tortured Brooke Whitaker before ultimately setting her and her infant daughter on fire,” Drummond said. “Johnson has never taken full accountability for these unconscionable acts, which not only devastated a family but also left three young children without their mother and baby sister. There must be justice for Brooke and Kya.”
Evidence from the trial showed that Johnson struck Whitaker with a claw hammer multiple times during an extended assault in her home. Afterward, he poured gasoline over Whitaker and her home before setting it on fire. Both Whitaker and her infant daughter died as a result of their injuries.
The clemency packet also included information about Johnson’s prior conviction for a 1995 homicide, indicating a pattern of violent behavior interrupted only by periods of incarceration. Johnson’s clemency hearing is set for April 8.
Drummond leads the Oklahoma Attorney General’s office, which focuses on combating crime, ensuring government transparency, strengthening tribal relations, upholding the rule of law, supporting policies related to energy and education, advocating tougher laws against serious crimes such as rape and drug distribution, collaborating with state and federal partners to address organized crime, and providing public legal services in Oklahoma according to the official biography.
The outcome of this case may have broader implications for how violent crimes are addressed in Oklahoma.
