In rare occasions, art can find a way to imitate life. This seems to be the current case with famed actress Susan Sarandon. In 1995, she won an Oscar for her portrayal of Sister Helen Prejean, a real-life nun who forms a special relationship with with a prisoner on death row, in the crime drama film Dean Man Walking. Sarandon is following in Sister Helen Prejean's footsteps as she crusades for Oklahoma death row inmate Richard Glossip's execution decision to be suspended and better representation for his trial.
52-year-old Glossip was arrested in connection with the murder of Barry Van Treese, a man beaten to death with a baseball bat inside room 102 in an Oklahoma hotel on Jan. 7, 1997. Glossip wasn't the only suspect arrested for the brutal killing, according to People.
37-year-old Justin Sneed confessed to executing the physical beating in the crime, but accused his employer Glossip (who served as the hotel's handyman) of being the "mastermind" behind the fatal attack. Sneed was sentenced to life in prison without parole after striking a plea deal, while Glossip was sentenced to the death penalty in 1998.
"Sister Helen Prejean called me and convinced me that this guy, Richard Glossip, was innocent and needed another chance to have better representation to present new information that would establish a reasonable doubt as to his guilt and save him from being executed," Sarandon said." Since the only real option we had is press, because [Glossip] has gone through a number of trials and has exhausted that route, I decided to help."
Glossip is scheduled for a lethal injection on Sept. 16. There's been an outcry of support for the court to overturn Gollip's death sentence. Not only have informative websites and donation pages been created in his name, but several active petitions have been created in hopes of convincing Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin to change her mind. Along with adding her name to the different petitions, the 68-year-old actress has helped generate more than 150,000 signatures from people who believe he deserves another chance at life.
"He's hopeful and appreciative of everyone that signed on and found more information. There are a lot of people in Oklahoma who had no idea about the details of his case, and especially since it's their tax money that will be killing him, they were very thankful and have sent letters of support."
In a surprising turn of events, an unlikely supporter wrote a letter to the clemency board urging for the injection to be stopped and a reconsideration of a proper trial. Sneed's daughter, O'Ryan Justine Sneed, wrote a letter disclosing shocking details about her dad, including her father wanting to recant her original testimony. Unfortunately, her testimony was sent in at the last minute and the bid for his freedom failed.
"For a couple of years now, my father had been talking to me about recanting his original testimony. But has been afraid to act upon it, in fear of being charged with the death penalty and not being here for his children," she wrote.
In an Aug. 10 statement, Gov. Fallin revealed they will not be delaying his execution. Sarandon has voiced her frustration about the decisions being made, stating the judicial system is "broken" and the prison sysem industry is "racist." The actress plans to continue to fight for Gollip's case, before it's too late."
