Missouri
Missouri to Execute Man Despite Unusual Pleas From Victim’s Fam and Prosecutors
Missouri is set to execute 55-year-old death row inmate Marcellus Williams on Tuesday evening — despite pleas from prosecutors and even his victim’s family.
Missouri’s governor, Mike Parson, and its supreme court said Monday that sufficient evidence exists for the state to take Williams’ life for the 1998 stabbing murder of Felicia Gayle, a social worker and former reporter at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
The state’s decision to push forward with the execution is among the more controversial in recent years, with the same prosecutor’s office that convicted Williams now sounding the alarm he may actually be innocent.
Gayle’s family has even spoken out in favor of clemency, signaling that a life sentence without parole is the appropriate punishment for Williams given the circumstances.
Williams has maintained for decades that he didn’t enter Gayle’s home on Aug. 6, 1998, and fatally stab her 43 times with a butcher’s knife before stealing her purse and her husband’s laptop, as prosecutors alleged.
Felicia “Licia” Gayle was murdered in her St. Louis home in 1998.
St. Louis Post Dispatch
Investigators recorded fingerprints, footprints, hair, and DNA on a kitchen knife at the crime scene, but the investigation went on for more than a year before police arrested Williams. It was revealed during a trial that Williams’ DNA did not match the forensic evidence recovered from the crime scene.
Yet, Williams was still convicted of murder in 2001 and sentenced to death after damning testimony was heard from his cellmate, who claimed he confessed to the killing while in lockup for a separate crime, and from Williams’ girlfriend, who said she saw the stolen purse and laptop in William’s car.
Williams’ extensive criminal record surely didn’t help him win favor with jurors, either. At the time of his conviction, he was serving a 50-year sentence for an unrelated robbery.
Still, defense attorneys argued that Williams’ ex-cellmate and girlfriend were both gunning for the $10,000 reward put forward by Gayle’s family, which made them willing to make up lies if it’d personally benefit them. In the end, neither received the payout.
Jailhouse informants are known to be particularly problematic, with the University of Michigan finding that they’re involved in 23 percent of death penalty exoneration cases.
Williams escaped execution at the final hour twice previously, first by the state Supreme Court in 2015 and again in 2017 when then-Gov. Eric Greitens, a Republican, granted Williams a reprieve and asked prosecutors to review DNA evidence again. That DNA evidence may have exonerated Williams, but it was determined to have been spoiled by members of the prosecutor’s office who touched the knife without gloves before the trial.
Now its Parson, a former sheriff of 11 years, who is sitting in the governor’s mansion in Jefferson City. He’s been in office for 11 executions and has never granted clemency.
Parson justified his decision in a statement on Monday, writing that “no jury nor court, including at the trial, appellate, and Supreme Court levels, have ever found merit in Mr. Williams’ innocence claims.”
The Midwest Innocence Project says it will push for Williams’ clemency up until 6 p.m. CST Tuesday, when he’s scheduled to be killed by lethal injection.
The Missouri Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 19, 2025, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from Dec. 19 drawing
01-11-27-39-59, Mega Ball: 18
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from Dec. 19 drawing
Midday: 4-3-1
Midday Wild: 3
Evening: 3-6-5
Evening Wild: 9
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from Dec. 19 drawing
Midday: 4-5-1-4
Midday Wild: 0
Evening: 5-5-4-1
Evening Wild: 2
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash4Life numbers from Dec. 19 drawing
06-31-34-37-41, Cash Ball: 04
Check Cash4Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from Dec. 19 drawing
Early Bird: 08
Morning: 05
Matinee: 15
Prime Time: 07
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Show Me Cash numbers from Dec. 19 drawing
12-23-28-33-38
Check Show Me Cash payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
All Missouri Lottery retailers can redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes over $600, winners have the option to submit their claim by mail or in person at one of Missouri Lottery’s regional offices, by appointment only.
To claim by mail, complete a Missouri Lottery winner claim form, sign your winning ticket, and include a copy of your government-issued photo ID along with a completed IRS Form W-9. Ensure your name, address, telephone number and signature are on the back of your ticket. Claims should be mailed to:
Ticket Redemption
Missouri Lottery
P.O. Box 7777
Jefferson City, MO 65102-7777
For in-person claims, visit the Missouri Lottery Headquarters in Jefferson City or one of the regional offices in Kansas City, Springfield or St. Louis. Be sure to call ahead to verify hours and check if an appointment is required.
For additional instructions or to download the claim form, visit the Missouri Lottery prize claim page.
When are the Missouri Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
- Pick 4: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
- Cash4Life: 8 p.m. daily.
- Cash Pop: 8 a.m. (Early Bird), 11 a.m. (Late Morning), 3 p.m. (Matinee), 7 p.m. (Prime Time) and 11 p.m. (Night Owl) daily.
- Show Me Cash: 8:59 p.m. daily.
- Lotto: 8:59 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.
- Powerball Double Play: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Missouri editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Missouri’s attorney general has revealed which Chinese assets the state will be targeting in a $50 billion legal row.
The Show Me State’s legal battle with China has intensified as both sides pursue multibillion-dollar claims related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
And now, Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway has explained what is on the table in terms of what assets will be targeted in the litigation.
“China caused extraordinary harm to our citizens and our economy,” she told Newsweek. “We are committed to holding them accountable and recovering every dollar we can. I’ve been asked if we will seize the pandas at the National Zoo. The answer is no, we are looking at other Chinese-owned assets, including farmland.”
Why It Matters
The confrontation highlights ongoing diplomatic rifts between the United States and China and raises complex questions about international law, sovereign immunity, and the ability of U.S. states to seize foreign-owned property. The outcome could set precedents for future pandemic-related litigation and diplomatic engagement between the two countries.
What To Know
China recently filed a lawsuit in a Wuhan court against Missouri and several state officials, seeking more than $50 billion in damages and public apologies.
In response, Missouri is advancing efforts to enforce a $24 billion U.S. court judgment against the Chinese government and affiliated entities—by targeting certain Chinese-owned assets within the United States.
The current dispute stems from a 2020 lawsuit filed by Missouri, which alleged that China exacerbated the coronavirus pandemic by hoarding personal protective equipment (PPE) and failing to provide timely warnings regarding the virus.
Earlier this year, the Missouri Attorney General’s Office obtained a $24–$25 billion judgment against the People’s Republic of China, the Chinese Communist Party, and related entities after Chinese officials declined to participate in the U.S. court process.
In response to Missouri’s legal success, China has now filed a $50.5 billion (356.4 billion yuan) lawsuit in the Intermediate People’s Court of Wuhan.
The complaint, jointly submitted by the Chinese government, Wuhan’s municipal government, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Wuhan Institute of Virology, names the state of Missouri, Governor Mike Kehoe, U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt, and former Attorney General Andrew Bailey as defendants.
The Chinese lawsuit claims Missouri and its officials engaged in “fabricating enormous disinformation, and spreading stigmatizing and discriminating slanders” that impaired China’s economic interests and reputation.
Alongside financial compensation, China seeks public apologies in prominent American and Chinese media outlets, recovery of legal costs, and the right to claim further damages.
What People Are Saying
Hanaway said: “I find it extremely telling that the Chinese blame our great state for ‘belittling the social evaluation’ of The Wuhan Institute of Virology… We stand undeterred in our mission to collect on our $24 billion judgment that was lawfully handed down in federal court.”
U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt, who initiated Missouri’s original lawsuit, said: “I’ve been banned from Communist China, and now I am being sued and targeted by Communist China in a $50 Billion lawfare campaign, and I’ll wear it like a badge of honor… This novel lawsuit is factually baseless, legally meritless, and any fake judgment a Chinese court issues in this lawsuit we will easily beat back and keep from being enforced against the people of Missouri or me.”
Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, described the Missouri lawsuit as “a purely politically motivated maneuver [and] China firmly opposes it, will never accept it, and reserves the right to take strong countermeasures.”
What Happens Next
Missouri is in the process of seeking certification of its federal court judgment—a legal prerequisite for initiating asset seizures under U.S. law. If certification is granted, the state may move forward with efforts to identify and seize Chinese-owned assets, particularly farmland and financial interests connected to the Chinese government or its proxies.
Simultaneously, Chinese legal action in Wuhan courts is ongoing, with the plaintiffs demanding significant damages and public apologies.
FRISCO, TX — Missouri State football ended a historic season, in which it qualified for a bowl game in its first season as an FBS program, with a loss in the Xbox Bowl.
The Bears made a late push, but came up short in a 34-28 loss to Arkansas State on Thursday, Dec. 18, in the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.
Thus ends one of the best years in Bears football history, their first in Conference USA, where they went 7-6 and had their first six wins over FBS programs since 1990. Mo State won five one-score games, while reaching feats that were once thought impossible for a once-disastrous program.
Thursday night marked the end of the six-year Petrino family era for Missouri State, as news broke earlier in the day that the school was finalizing the hire of SMU offensive coordinator Casey Woods as its next head coach. Woods will replace Ryan Beard, who didn’t coach in the Xbox Bowl after accepting the head coaching position at Coastal Carolina. Woods’ hiring is expected to be announced on Dec. 19.
The Springfield News-Leader is bringing you live updates from Frisco, Texas. Follow for live updates.
Watch Missouri State vs Arkansas State on ESPN+
Missouri State vs Arkansas State in Xbox Bowl live score
This section will be updated throughout the game
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
| Arkansas State | 14 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 34 |
| Missouri State | 7 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 28 |
Final — Arkansas State 34, Missouri State 28
Jacob Clark to Jmariyae Robinson for a touchdown
Clark to Robinson for a 16-yard score with 1:54 left. Bears have to get the onside kick.
Missouri State has first-and-goal at the 16
A 59-yard pass to Dash Luke has the Bears in position to strike at the two-minute warning. Bears at the ASU 16.
Arkansas State misses field goal
The Bears have a pulse again? MSU ball at its 20 with 3:20 left.
Missouri State muffs punt when it just got a pulse
Dash Luke muffs a punt with 3:50 left, and the Red Wolves recover. Dang.
Jacob Clark throws pretty TD to Dash Luke
A dime down the middle of the field to Dash Luke goes for a 47-yard touchdown. Luke has 110 yards and two touchdowns on six receptions. Clark is up to 23-31 for 274 yards and three scores. Two-point conversion ruled short.
Missouri State forces Arkansas State punt
Bears ball at their own 48.
Arkansas State recovers strip-sack
From the ASU 34, Clark is hit and he fumbles. Red Wolves ball with 9:01 left and this one is ovah.
Arkansas State knocks in field goal
A 32-yard field goal with 12:43 left extends the Red Wolves’ lead back up to three scores.
Jacob Clark hits Ramone Green for TD to open fourth quarter
A beautiful ball from Jacob Clark to Ramone Green for a 15-yard touchdown pass. Bears cut Arkansas State’s lead to 31-15 with 14:52 left in the game. The Bears go for two and get it. It’s suddenly a two-score game.
Missouri State in scoring position
The Bears are at the Red Wolves’ 15, facing third-and-11, to begin the fourth quarter.
Missouri State takes over at its own 10
This game is sloooooooow. Bears need to make this score respectable or something on this drive.
Devin Spencer runs for 25-yard touchdown
Arkansas State went 65 yards in less than two minutes. Devin Spencer runs in a touchdown from 25 yards out. Bears down 31-7 with 10:23 left in the third.
Arkansas State, Missouri State trade punts
Red Wolves ball at their own 35.
Arkansas State takes 24-7 lead into halftime
Jacob Clark is 13-16 for 115 yards and a touchdown, but he’s been sacked four times, and there have been a pair of untimely penalties. Red Wolves have eight tackles for a loss. Defense is struggling to get stops and has been giving up big plays, allowing four passes of 21 yards or more.
Missouri State, Arkansas State trade punts
Bears ball at their own 24 with 69 seconds left in the half.
Arkansas State back in the endzone
This game is in danger of getting away from the Bears. Jaylen Raynor hit Hunter Summers for a 39-yard diving completion. The Wolves score two plays later on a four-yard touchdown pass. It’s 24-7 Wolves with 6:14 left in the half.
Missouri State penalty, sack allowed kills another drive
Jacob Clark scrambled for 15, but it was called back because of a hold. He was sacked for the second time right after. Arkansas State returns the punt 35 yards to the MSU 44.
Arkansas State boots 54-yard field goal
The Bears kept the Wolves out of the endzone for the first time tonight, but Clune Van Andel boots a 54-yard field goal. Wolves up 17-7 with 12:40 left in the half.
Jacob Clark to Dash Luke for a Missouri State TD
Jacob Clark rolls out to his left, gets a corner to bite and throws a 39-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Dash Luke to get the Bears on the board. Arkansas State up 14-7 with 17 seconds left in the quarter.
Arkansas State strikes with deep touchdown
A deep ball from Jaylen Raynor to Corey Rucker is perfect, and he goes 71 yards to the house. The Bears’ defense isn’t looking good. It’s 14-0 with 2:51 left in the first quarter.
Missouri State moved the ball, but Arkansas State got to Jacob Clark again
The Bears got to the Red Wolves’ 36, but were flagged for holding. Their drive stalls after Jacob Clark was sacked. Wolves ball at their five.
Arkansas State quickly drives down the field for a score
The Bears struggled to tackle, and the Red Wolves took advantage. They go 55 yards in five plays to take an early 7-0 lead just four minutes in.
Missouri State goes three-and-out to start the game
The pass rush is getting after Jacob Clark with his makeshift offensive line. They’re immediately forced to punt. Wolves ball at their 45.
Missouri State vs Arkansas State pregame notes
8:03 p.m. — Missouri State will receive the opening kick.
7:56 p.m. — Nick Petrino’s offensive line is expected to be pretty thin tonight. Cash Hudson is playing, despite it looking like he’s portal-bound. But they could be down a couple more with Ebubedike Nnabugwu and others expected to be out.
7:34 p.m. — Here’s your next Missouri State football coach, which I was able to confirm. SMU offensive coordinator Casey Woods will be announced as head coach on Friday morning after a Missouri State Board of Governors meeting.
7:29 p.m. — Hello, Springfield. Nice to talk to you again. What a moment for Missouri State as it participates in its first bowl game. The joy on the supporters’ faces has already made this a special night.
What time does Missouri State vs Arkansas State start?
- Date: Thursday, Dec. 18
- Time: 8 p.m. CT
- Location: Ford Center at The Star, Frisco, Texas
The Bears and Red Wolves are scheduled to kick off at 8 p.m. CT on Thursday, Dec. 18, from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.
What TV channel is Missouri State vs Arkansas State on today?
- TV channel: ESPN2
- Streaming: ESPN+
Missouri State will take on Arkansas State on ESPN2 with Jorge Sedano, Rodney McCloud and Victoria Arlen on the call. Streaming options for the game include ESPN+.
Watch Missouri State vs Arkansas State on ESPN+
Missouri State vs Arkansas State predictions in Xbox Bowl
- Wyatt Wheeler: Missouri State over Arkansas State
- Matt Hayes: Missouri State over Arkansas State
- Jordan Mendoza: Missouri State over Arkansas State
- Paul Meyerberg: Arkansas State over Missouri State
- Erick Smith: Arkansas State over Missouri State
- Eddie Timanus: Arkansas State over Missouri State
- Blake Toppmeyer: Missouri State over Arkansas State
Missouri State vs Arkansas State odds, spread for Xbox Bowl
Odds courtesy of BetMGM on the morning of Monday, Dec. 15
- Spread: Arkansas State -1 1/2
- Over/under: 56 1/2
- Moneyline: ARST -115, MOST -105
College Football Playoff schedule 2025-26
- First round: Dec. 19 and 20
- Quarterfinals: Dec. 31 and Jan. 2
- Semifinals: Jan. 8 and 9
- National championship: Jan. 19
Wyatt D. Wheeler covers Kansas State athletics for the USA TODAY Network and Topeka Capital-Journal. You can follow him on X at @WyattWheeler_, contact him at 417-371-6987 or email him at wwheeler@usatodayco.com
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