Missouri
Marcellus Williams executed in Missouri despite conviction doubts
The 55-year-old was convicted in 2003 over the killing of Lisha Gayle in what appeared to be a burglary gone wrong.
Marcellus Williams, who was convicted of murder 21 years ago, has been executed in the midwestern state of Missouri despite concerns raised over the integrity of the case.
The United States Supreme Court, the last body that could have overturned Williams’s death sentence, declined to intervene in the case on Tuesday.
The 55-year-old was executed by lethal injection shortly after 6pm (23:00 GMT) at a prison in Bonne Terre, according to The Innocence Project, whose lawyer worked with Williams. His death came a day after both Missouri Governor Mike Parson and the state’s highest court also rejected his last-ditch appeals to avoid execution.
Williams was found guilty in the 1998 killing of Lisha Gayle, a 42-year-old former newspaper reporter who was stabbed 43 times during what appeared to be a burglary gone wrong. He had maintained he was innocent.
Wesley Bell, whose office handled the original prosecution, had sought to block the execution due to concerns about the original trial.
“Even for those who disagree on the death penalty, when there is a shadow of a doubt of any defendant’s guilt, the irreversible punishment of execution should not be an option,” Bell said in a statement before the execution.
In court papers, Bell questioned the reliability of the two main trial witnesses, concluded that prosecutors improperly excluded Black jurors on the basis of race and noted that new testing found no trace of Williams’s DNA on the murder weapon. Williams was African American.
Subsequent tests also revealed that there was DNA on the knife from a prosecutor and an investigator who worked on the case and handled the weapon without gloves.
The contamination of the knife led prosecutors and Williams’s lawyers to an agreement in August to commute the sentence to life in prison.
Gayle’s family also backed the deal, but Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey objected and the state Supreme Court blocked it at his request. A state judge upheld Williams’s murder conviction earlier this month, finding that the lack of evidence on the knife was not enough to establish his innocence.
The Missouri Supreme Court affirmed that decision on Monday.
Governor Parson, a Republican, also turned down Williams’s request for clemency the same day.
“No jury nor court, including at the trial, appellate, and Supreme Court levels, have ever found merit in Mr. Williams’ innocence claims,” he said in a statement. “At the end of the day, his guilty verdict and sentence of capital punishment were upheld.”
Williams was among death row inmates in five states who were scheduled to be executed in the span of a week – an unusually high number amid a years-long decline in the use and support of the death penalty in the United States.
The first was carried out on Friday in South Carolina. Texas was also slated to execute a prisoner on Tuesday evening. Travis Mullis, 38, was convicted of stamping his three-month-old son, Alijah Mullis, to death in 2008.
The death penalty has been abolished in 23 US states, while six others – Arizona, California, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Tennessee – have moratoriums in place.
Missouri
DraftKings Missouri promo code live: $300 in bonus (win or lose) for Alabama vs. Arizona
Missouri’s long-awaited sports betting launch has finally arrived, and DraftKings is kicking things off with one of its most generous new-user deals on the market. To celebrate the state’s debut, DraftKings is offering users the chance to earn $300 in bonus bets after placing a $5 wager. No DraftKings promo code is required.
Arizona is 8-0 and has already beaten Florida, UCLA, UConn and Auburn. As a result, the Wildcats are the No. 1-ranked team in the country. Despite that, they are 1.5-point underdogs when they visit Tuscaloosa to play No. 12 Alabama on Saturday night. Will the Tide hand Arizona its first loss? Or will Alabama be the latest name added to Arizona’s already impressive resume?
DraftKings Missouri promo code at a glance
| 🏆DraftKings Missouri promo code | No code required |
|---|---|
| 🎁DraftKings Missouri welcome offer for new users | Bet $5, get $300 in bonus bets instantly |
| 💲DraftKings Missouri promo code minimum deposit | $5 |
| 💲DraftKings Missouri promo code minimum first bet | $5 |
| 📋DraftKings Missouri promo code terms and conditions | – Bonus bets are awarded instantly after you bet $5+. This qualifying bet can win or lose.
– Bonus credited as 12 $25 bonus bet tokens. – Bonus bets expire seven days (168 hours) after receipt. |
| ✅Last verified | Dec. 13, 2025 |
DraftKings Missouri promo code: How to get started betting in Missouri today
Here are the steps that you need to take to score $300 in bonus bets from DraftKings:
- Select one of the DraftKings Missouri promo code links or banners on this page.
- Click “Sign Up” and complete the registration steps to make an account.
- Locate the green “Deposit” button at the top of the DraftKings website or mobile app and fund your new account (minimum $5).
- Find a bet that you like, add it to your betslip, select the amount you want to wager (minimum $5) and submit it.
- You will instantly receive $300 in bonus bets, win or lose.
- Your 12 $25 bonus bet tokens expire seven days (168 hours) after you receive them.
💡Tip: You need to provide some personal information like your name, email, mobile number, birthdate and the last four digits of your Social Security Number during sign-up. This information is totally secure and is used to verify your identity.
How the DraftKings Missouri promo code works
Below, you can check out the most important details of the DraftKings Missouri promo code:
- Promo code: No code required, click one of our links to score the bonus
- Who is eligible: New customers who are 21+ and located in Missouri
- Minimum first deposit: $5
- Minimum first bet amount: $5
- Minimum odds requirement: None
- Bonus bet structure: Issued as 12 $25 bonus bet tokens
- When you’ll receive your bonus bets: Instantly after placing a $5 qualifying wager
- Expiration of bonus bets: Seven days (168 hours) after they reach your account
Reasons to sign up with the DraftKings Missouri promo
DraftKings Sportsbook is one of the leaders in the sports betting industry, and this is for many reasons.
For starters, their mobile app ranks as arguably the best of its kind for speed, layout and overall experience. The app has user ratings of 4.7/5 and 4.8/5 from the Google Play Store and Apple Store, respectively.
Another reason to sign up with the DraftKings Missouri promo code is, of course, the welcome offer. The “Bet $5, get $300 in bonus bets” offer is only for Missouri sports betting participants and is available for a limited time.
After you sign up, you can check out the “Promos” page to see the lineup of ongoing offers. These include a variety of profit boosts, no sweat bets, the new Early Exit promo and others.
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Missouri
Bet365 bonus code SYRACUSE: New $365 “America’s Game” bonus in Missouri!
As of Saturday, December 13, 2025, Bet365 Sportsbook is firmly established in the Show-Me State, continuing a massive expansion for the global betting giant. To maximize its footprint during this pivotal opening month, Bet365 Missouri has extended its most aggressive welcome promotion in Bowl Season: the Bet365 bonus code SYRACUSE now unlocks a Bet $10, Get $365 in Bonus Bets deal for all eligible Missouri residents.
This enhanced bonus stands as a significant departure from Bet365’s typical national approach. In mature markets such as New Jersey and Ohio, the standard entry offer is generally capped at $150. By utilizing the Bet365 bonus code in Missouri today, new registrants secure an extra $215 in bonus value, cementing this $365 guarantee as one of the premier launch incentives in the United States.
Bet365 Bonus Code SYRACUSE: A New National Benchmark
The timing of this rollout is impeccable, aligning perfectly with the most storied rivalry in college football. The Bet365 bonus code framework for Missouri is engineered to supply immediate account liquidity. Unlike deposit matches that demand a high upfront cost, or “safety net” bets that rely on a loss to trigger a refund, the Bet365 bonus code SYRACUSE ensures the $365 payout happens regardless of whether the qualifying bet wins or loses.
Key Deal Terms:
- Bonus Code: SYRACUSE
- Offer: Bet $10, Get $365 in Bonus Bets (Guaranteed).
- Value Differential: +$215 over the standard $150 national promo.
- Launch Window: December 2025 (Live Now).
Today’s Top Missouri Betting Opportunity: Army vs. Navy
The activation of the Bet365 bonus code comes just hours before kickoff for “America’s Game.” Missouri bettors can apply their qualifying $10 wager on this afternoon’s service academy clash to instantly trigger the $365 bonus mechanism.
Army vs. Navy: Saturday College Football Spotlight
- Teams: Army Black Knights vs. Navy Midshipmen
- Date: Saturday, December 13, 2025
- Time: 3:00 PM ET
- Venue: M&T Bank Stadium
Current Betting Odds
- Total (Over/Under): 38.5
- Moneyline Odds: Army +210, Navy -235
- Note: Odds are subject to change.
By using the Bet365 bonus code to place a $10 wager on the Midshipmen cover (-6), the Army upset (+210), or the defensive struggle on the Under (38.5), Missouri accounts will be credited with $365 in bonus bets. This provides a significant war chest for the remainder of the December football schedule.
How to Activate the Bet365 Bonus Code SYRACUSE:

With the platform fully operational, claiming this elevated launch bonus requires following specific steps during sign-up. The Bet365 bonus code must be applied as follows:
- Application: Enter the Bet365 bonus code SYRACUSE inside the dedicated field during account creation on the Missouri app or desktop site.
- Deposit: Make a minimum initial deposit of $10 to fund the new account.
- Qualifying Wager: Place a $10 wager on the Army-Navy game (or any other eligible market).
- Distribution: The Bet365 bonus code triggers the release of $365 in bonus bets to the account balance once the wager settles, irrespective of the final score.
Conclusion: Bet365 Missouri Redefines the Opening Month
The arrival of Bet365 in Missouri delivers more than just a new platform; it introduces a market-altering promotional tier. By leveraging the Bet365 bonus code SYRACUSE during this historic opening month, sports fans guarantee themselves a bonus $215 higher than the national average, ensuring the most profitable start possible to their betting experience in Missouri.
GAMBLING PROBLEM? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. 21+ only. Must be physically located in MO. T&Cs Apply. In App Only.
If you or a loved one has questions or needs to talk to a professional about gambling, call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit 1800gambler.net for more information.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Missouri
MSHP: 221 pounds of marijuana seized in Missouri traffic stop, woman arrested
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – The Missouri State Highway Patrol arrested a 29-year-old woman after seizing over 200 pounds of marijuana in a traffic stop.
ALSO READ: Investigation into Missouri kratom retailers expands, says AG
According to the MSHP, troopers stopped a vehicle for a registration violation and following too closely on EB I-70 in Montgomery County, Mo., on Thursday, December 11. Authorities then searched the vehicle, finding 221 pounds of marijuana.
According to an MSHP report, 29-year-old Briana A. Roberts was taken into custody and held in the Montgomery County Jail for 24 hours. She could be charged with trafficking drugs in the first degree and endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree, according to the report.
No further information has been released.
Copyright 2025 KCTV. All rights reserved.
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