Fabion Brown—age 24, black

Sentenced to death in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma
By: a jury
Date of crime: 1/11/12
Prosecution case/defense response: Fabion Brown orchestrated the murder-for-hire of his estranged wife, Jessica Brown and unborn child. On January 11, 2012, in the dead of night, Brodic Glover entered the home of Jessica and fatally shot her. Brown elected to represent himself during his trial. His mother testified Brown was “physically, mentally, and emotionally abused” by his stepfather. During the penalty phase, Brown pleaded to the jury for a sentence “less than death.” For prosecutors, Brown had the “opportunity to do so many things,” but instead, he chose to send a “hired killer into the home of his kids and wife.”
Sources: The Daily Oklahoman, June 28, 2014; Springfield News-Leader, June 29, 2014

Donnie Harris, Jr.—black, age 30

Sentenced to death in LeFlore County, Oklahoma
By: a jury
Date of crime: 2/18/12
Prosecution’s case/defense response: Harris doused his girlfriend Kristi Ferguson with gasoline and set her on fire inside a house. The house burned down, but 4 others in the dwelling escaped unharmed. Ferguson succumbed to her injuries 19 days later. The defense presented mitigating evidence that Harris had little supervision as a child, was traumatized by his mother’s death, and had a history of substance abuse.
Sources: Times-Record (Ft. Smith AR) 12/19/13