Episode 07: The Murder of Felicia Gayle and the Conviction and Execution of Marcellus Williams - Part 1

On August 11, 1998, two lives would be intertwined forever. One person would lose their life that day, and the other would lose theirs 26 years later. Felicia, a reporter and strong advocate was brutally murdered in her home. The man convicted in her murder, Marcellus Williams, would be executed on September 24, 2024, by lethal injection. For 26 years following the murder of Felicia, Marcellus maintained his innocence with his attorneys filing motion after motion to stay his execution. Many believe there was too much doubt regarding Marcellus being the killer - and if there was doubt, should the state of Missouri have followed through with his execution as they did a mere 4 weeks ago. This week we’re going to discuss what happened that fateful day in 1998 and what legal practices ensued during the 26 years following murder of Felicia Gayle and the conviction and execution of Marcellus Williams. 

 

Sources: 

Slayings – Mystery Surrounds two stabbings in area – St. Louis Post – Dispatch –

St. Louis Post – Dispatch – Police No Longer Believe 2 Slayings are Linked – Michael D. Sorkin – May 17, 1999

St. Louis Post – Dispatch – Murder Charge is expected to be filed in killing last year of former reporter – Bill Bryan – November 24, 1999

St. Louis Post – Dispatch - Murderer has been caring father, brother, relatives say – William C. Lhotka – June 19, 2001

St. Louis Post – Dispatch Man is found guilty in fatal stabbing of University City woman – William Lhotka – June 16, 2001

St. Louis Post – Dispatch – Alleged killer of former reporter spoke of crime to others, jury is told – William C. Lhotka – June 9, 2001

St. Louis Post – Dispatch – Jury votes death penalty for woman’s murder – William C. Lhtoka, June 20, 2001

St. Louis Post – Dispatch – Defendant’s ex-girlfirned links him to slain woman – William C. Lhotka – June 10, 2001

Room for Doubt – St. Louis Dispatch

St. Louis Post – Dispatch – The day Marcellus Williams didn’t die – Leonard Pitts – Miami Harrold -August 29, 2017

St. Louis Post – Dispatch – State attorney general aims to stop innocence hearing – Dana Rieck – July 20, 2024

Police Check Out Leads in slaying of former post-dispatch reporter – Deborah Peterson and Lance Williams – August 13, 1998

Murder of Felicia Gayle - Wikipedia

St. Louis – Post-Dispatch – Dana Rieck – Fate of Marcellus Williams hinges on evidence hearing

State v. Williams :: 2024 :: Supreme Court of Missouri Decisions :: Missouri Case Law :: Missouri Law :: US Law :: Justia

Supreme Court of Missouri – Motion for Stay of Execution – Prosecuting Attorney, 21st Judicial Circuit, Ex Rel., Marcellus Williams v. State of Missouri – September 23, 2024