Oklahoma
2024's 11 Most Adorable Small Towns in Oklahoma
Oklahoma’s beautiful natural landscapes, flanked by the Wichita and Ozark Mountains and a rich tapestry of Native American heritage, are some of the main reasons the Sooner State has garnered attention on many 2024 travel itineraries. However, Oklahoma has much more charm to uncover in its countless small towns scattered across the plains, prairies, and woodlands. They boast well-preserved main streets lined with historic architecture, locally-owned shops and restaurants, and a genuine hospitality you won’t find anywhere else. These exciting small towns in Oklahoma exemplify small-town Americana at its finest. Their appeal lies not just in their aesthetic beauty but in the meaningful connections visitors can form within these tight-knit communities.
Medicine Park
Nicknamed “America’s First Cobblestone Community,” Medicine Park stands out for the dramatic red rock formations prominent in its surroundings. The stunning outdoor scenery beckons tourists to explore the open spaces, which harbor natural gems like Bath Lake Medicine Park. This cozy oasis offers a relaxed environment for day walkers and the opportunity to fish or swim in its calm waters. Visiting families will find the ideal activity inside Medicine Park Aquarium and Natural Sciences Center, which provides a wholesome learning experience where visitors encounter local species.
Cute little shops and storefronts promise a casual yet fun shopping experience. Tourists can stop by White Buffalo Trading Post to check out a fine selection of souvenir items, from local crafts to Native American art. Also, Mrs. Chadwick’s Bakery serves tasty pastries, such as strawberry cheesecake muffins, for those with a sweet tooth.
Stillwater
Home to Oklahoma State University, Stillwater is a bustling college town with an array of world-class tourist attractions. This town famously hosts the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum, which displays interactive exhibits honoring the biggest to have come of the national wrestling scene. Stillwater boasts a buzzing art and culture scene that draws enthusiasts across the state. At the OSU Museum of Art, guests can explore an ever-changing collection of creative pieces. The same applies to the Hazel Modella Art Gallery, known for fine art displays.
Sports is a big part of the Stillwater community, and townsfolk constantly meet at the different arenas to rally behind their home teams. If you’ve ever watched a college football game, you’ll have an idea of the electric atmosphere to expect when attending a game at Boone Pickens Stadium. Finally, Boomer Lake Park ensures outdoorsy travelers have a haven to explore when they come to Stillwater.
Duncan
This small town of Stephens County stands out for its rich Western vibes and beautiful outdoors, dominated by sprawling prairies and farmlands. Duncan hosts the well-attended Chisholm Trail Roundup Rodeo celebration every year in September, which pays tribute to its Western heritage with exciting cowboy performances. But if you don’t make it to the festival, you can get the idea when visiting the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center & Garis Gallery of the American West. More rich history about the town is preserved and presented by the Stephens County Historical Museum through a comprehensive selection of archives and artifacts.
For outdoor exploration, Haliburton Park and Recreation offers an excellent space to spend time with friends or family. It has shaded picnic spots, quiet walking trails, and varied sports amenities to ensure a wholesome recreation experience.
Guthrie
Visitors to this gem in Logan County can expect an immersive cultural and historical experience. Guthrie boasts a site-rich historic district whose over 2,000 preserved buildings from the 19th and 20th centuries earned it a National Historic Landmark certification. This leaves you with a treasure trove of sites to discover, including the Oklahoma Territorial Museum. Housed inside a 1900s Renaissance Revival structure, the museum has interesting exhibits tracing local history and heritage. The town also has the Oklahoma Frontier Drug Store Museum, a historic building packed full of rare pharmacy-related artifacts.
Meanwhile, culture vultures can stop by Pollard Theater to catch an enthralling stage performance. This popular venue showcases different live shows throughout the year, headlined by Broadway-level musicals.
Chickasha
Chickasha exudes a strong Native American heritage right from its name, a Choctaw word for “Chickasaw.” Plenty of nature spaces encourage tourists to embrace the outdoor lifestyle. Shannon Springs Park presents one of the most visited spots in Chickasha, offering a relaxed scenery with manicured gardens and beautiful trails. The park is especially famous for hosting the Chickasha Festival of Light in December, which unites visitors and locals during a family-friendly extravaganza featuring an awesome light show and other fun activities.
Silver Screen lovers are in for a fun experience in Chickasha, with the opportunity to indulge in their favorite pastime at the Chief Drive-in Theater or Heritage Park Theater. When hungry, don’t forget to pop into the Interurban of Chickasha for some delicious American dishes with an urban twist.
Miami
Miami was established in 1891, making it one of the oldest towns in Oklahoma. This town is a former mining boomtown that once formed part of Indian territory and boasts a colorful heritage that you can learn more about at the Shawnee Tribe Cultural Center. This must-visit venue immerses guests into the past and present of the Shawnee tribe in Miami through rare cultural exhibits. Also, you can embark on an exciting journey back in time at the Dobson Museum & Home. The historic home delights with a collection of American Indian and mining artifacts.
Miami is also known for its lively casino scene, which provides exciting opportunities for gambling enthusiasts. Several venues, such as Quapaw Casino and High Winds Casino, offer slots and multiple table games for the complete casino experience.
Idabel
This quaint village takes you to the state’s southeast corner, promising a charming mix of family-friendly attractions. One of the top tourist draws in Idabel is the Museum of the Red River. Inside, you’ll find an exquisite collection of exhibits, ranging from Indian artifacts and handmade baskets to a pow-wow drum. Those traveling with kids can enjoy a fun time with family at Tomahawk’s. This indoor recreation area helps you work on your axe-throwing skills with friendly staff to help guide you through the technique.
When it’s time to venture outdoors, Idabel Country Club welcomes tourists to enjoy its beautiful natural areas and various recreations. Guests can access peaceful walking trails, relaxed fishing spots, and a picturesque golf course.
Broken Bow
Another southern gem, this tiny village’s claim to fame is the gateway to Beavers Bend State Park and Nature Center, a natural oasis with numerous outdoor opportunities. Adventurers assemble in this town in order to hike, fish, camp, and kayak. While exploring the beautiful park grounds, you will run into Beavers Bend State Park Forest Heritage Center. Touring the facility provides eye-opening information about the park and the community around it. Souvenir enthusiasts can also find cute traditional crafts to add to their collection at Broknbo Vintage Market.
After a long day exploring and discovering the town, FishTales Winery & Bistro offers the perfect hangout to relax and rejuvenate. It has a welcoming atmosphere and serves delicious food that you can eat with tasty local wines.
Bartlesville
Bartlesville is a popular destination for tourists who want to escape the hustle and bustle of neighboring Tulsa, which is about 50 miles away. This town offers a charming small-town feel with access to urban facilities. Its rich historical heritage is well preserved at several museums and landmarks, starting with Bartlesville Area Historical Society. Visitors can browse a comprehensive library of old photographs, Indian art, artifacts, videos, and other relics documenting local heritage. Additionally, Frank Phillips Home offers a look into Victorian-era Bartlesville through a range of period furnishings in the historic man of oil magnate Frank Phillips.
Art lovers with fancy touring the Price Tower Arts Center to engage the local arts community. Celebrated architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed this picturesque 19-story building, which showcases related exhibits by area creatives.
Sulphur
Nicknamed the “City of Springs,” this Murray County village is known for its mineral water springs, which are believed to have healing properties. Sulphur offers all the reasons tourists should be outside, led by the Chickasaw National Recreation Area. This eco-friendly nature with impressive diversity presents cozy natural swimming holes and an opportunity to encounter local wildlife like bison. Elsewhere, the Chickasaw Cultural Center immerses guests in the colorful heritage of the native Chickasaw Nation with interesting stories and artifacts.
You can continue your cultural journey by visiting the ARTesian Gallery and Studios. The facility houses diverse Chickasaw art and crafts that are worth admiring. It also has a cute gift shop for those interested in Indian souvenirs.
Tishomingo
If you like laid-back getaways with few people to run into, it doesn’t get better than this adorable village in Johnston County. Tishomingo is a small community of about 3,000 that delights vacationers with a mix of Indian culture and Southern hospitality. Tourists can have a quaint experience discovering local culture inside the Chickasaw Council House and Museum by perusing rare jewelry, pottery, beadwork, and other traditional crafts. Outdoors, low-key golfing on the lovely greens at Tishomingo Golf Course is a go-to activity for many visitors to the town.
Alternatively, you can visit the Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge for amazing encounters with local wildlife species. The reserve provides a habitat for migratory birds, snakes, and small mammals across its sprawling farmlands and thickets.
Final Thought
While Oklahoma is perhaps mainly known for its vast prairies and Native American culture, these modest destinations offer a glimpse into another side of the diverse Sooner State. Each community proudly honors its unique history and heritage while cultivating thriving downtown districts, celebration-filled festivals, and an unmistakable charm only found in towns where neighbors truly know each other. Whether looking for scenic natural beauty, museums highlighting a town’s roots, or simply stepping back in time, these adorable towns in Oklahoma provide memorable experiences off the beaten path in 2024.
The 2026 Oklahoma high school boys tennis state championships are being played Friday and Saturday at Oklahoma City Tennis Center.
Here are the results:
Order book on Oklahoma HS basketball at ‘The Big House’
Oklahoma high school boys tennis scoreboard
At Oklahoma City Tennis Center
Class 6A Boys
NO. 1 SINGLES
First Round
Walker Nelson, Bixby, def. Jackson Abner, Piedmont, 6-0, 6-0
Keon Azadi, Norman, def. Finley Stone, Muskogee, 6-1, 6-2
Adolfo Andrade, Tulsa Union, def. Jett Sewell, Deer Creek, 6-0, 6-0
Krishna Bhadriraju, Jenks, def. Karson Vega, Mustang, 6-0, 6-1
Eli Lemley, Edmond Memorial, def. Pierce Durbin, Broken Arrow, 6-0, 6-0
Brandon Ionescu, Norman North, def. Ben Colburn, Edmond North, 6-3, 6-1
Lincoln Smith, Putnam City, def. Nick Henry, Owasso, 6-4, 6-2
TJ Shanahan, Bishop McGuinness, def. Jonathan Dunn, Edmond Santa Fe, 6-1, 6-0
NO. 2 SINGLES
First Round
Gavin Davis, Edmond Memorial, def. Kyle Tran, Broken Arrow, 6-1, 6-0
Jose Mendoza, Union, def. Haden Buie, Muskogee, 6-0, 6-2
Tyson Stuart, Owasso, def. Patrick Hopper, Norman, 6-1, 6-2
Braley Griffith, Bishop McGuinness, def. Sam Fair, Mustang, 6-2, 6-4
Tej Beniwal, Jenks, def. Max menne, Stillwater, 6-0, 6-0
Josh Booze, Norman North, def. Nathan Aller, Piedmont, 6-2, 6-4
Haaris Sattar, Deer Creek, def. Aaron Warmoth, Edmond Santa Fe, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5
Carter Henson, Bixby, def. Javen Sanner, Edmond North, 6-3, 6-3
NO. 1 DOUBLES
First Round
Bailey-S. Morrison, Edmond Memorial, def. Clink-Harrison, Jenks, 6-2, 6-3
Harkins-Thomas, Edmond North, def. Anderson-Harris, Mustang, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
Amaya-Loeffler, Bishop McGuinness, def. Gonzalez-Lisle, Union, 6-2, 6-2
Torrence-Whitney, Bixby, def. Crawford-Lopez, Moore, 6-1, -2
Haymore-Yong, Edmond Santa Fe, def. Kistler-Szendrei, Norman, 6-3, 6-4
Dosev-McKee, Stillwater, def. Payne-Warren, Owasso, 6-3, 6-3
Webster-Mathis, Choctaw, def. Goncharov-Kim, Norman North, 4-6, 6-4, 6-5
Corbin-Palmer, Yukon, def. Colmenero-Covington, Bartlesville, 6-1, 6-3
NO. 2 DOUBLES
First Round
Bowling-D. Morrison, Edmond Memorial, def. Barnes-Lippe, Yukon, 6-1, 6-0
Darby-Nguyen, Union, def. Coleman-Gary, Owasso, 6-1, 6-3
Remy-Stevenson, Bixby, def. O’Neill-Phillips, Ponca City, 6-3, 6-2
Henness-Hua, Broken Arrow, def. Bruce-Li, Stillwater, 6-1, 6-1
V. Beniwal-Schissel, Jenks, def. Hall-Jackson, Norman North, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2
Majors-Phan, Edmond North, def. Hollenbeck-Hollenbeck, Choctaw, 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-4
Chiang-Cumpton, Edmond Santa Fe, def. Burchett-Proctor, Bartlesville, 6-2, 6-1
Dell-Osso-J. Griffith, Bishop McGuinness, def. Calderwood-Hennessee, Westmoore, 6-0, 6-1
Class 5A Boys
NO. 1 SINGLES
First Round
Dutch Prather, Tulsa Bishop Kelley, def. Carter Schollenbarger, Shawnee, 6-0, 6-0
Tai Nguyen, Pryor, def. Caleb Whaley, McAlester, 6-0, 6-0
Ethan Luong, Carl Albert, def. Jan Kosik, Grove, 6-0, 6-0
Hayden Shriner, Casady, def. Gaius Sanchez, Durant, 6-2, 6-0
JP Dillon, Crossings Christian, def. Luke Wickham, Claremore, 6-0, 6-0
River Tate, Duncan, def. Rawley Winsett, Altus, 6-0, 6-0
Christian Huntley, Metro Christian, def. Roshan Kunapuli, Tulsa BTW, 6-1, 6-2
Benjamin Kendrick, Cascia Hall, def. Eli Mooney, Classen, 6-0, 6-1
NO. 2 SINGLES
First Round
Ashton Haynes, Metro Christian, def. Jesse Gonzales, Midwest City, 6-0, 6-0
Grant Alexander, Grove, def. William Downey, Lawton, 6-1, 6-3
Liam Allen, Bishop Kelley, def. Will Cooper, McAlester, 6-0, 6-0
Gavin Cobble, Duncan, def. Deacon Fannin, Pryor, 6-3, 6-2
Joel Lauw, Crossings Christian, def. Brandon Rogers, Carl Albert, 6-4, 6-2
Caleb Strickland, Altus, def. Mackinle Sisovsky, Claremore, 6-4, 6-3
Aryan Singh, Casady, def. Samuel Frederick, Lawton MacArthur, 6-0, 6-0
Gavin Warren, Cascia Hall, def. Truman White, Tulsa BTW, 6-1, 6-0
NO. 1 DOUBLES
First Round
G. Dillon-Shapard, Crossings Christian, def. Blackbird-Havens, Tahlequah, 6-0, 6-1
Koehn-Ollison, Classen, def. Cole-Comstock, Shawnee, 6-1, 6-4
Neal-T. Prather, Bishop Kelley, def. Johnstone-Landis, Casady, 6-4, 6-0
Hardy-McCann, Metro Christian, def. Hall-Hester, McAlester, 6-1, 6-0
Reineke-Zeiders, Heritage Hall, def. Schartz-Karleskint, Grove, 6-1, 6-4
Mayer-Olmstead, Guthrie, def. Rodgers-Stallings, Cascia Hall, 6-1, 6-4
Crimmins-Davis, Duncan, def. Hays-Martin, Pryor, 6-2, 6-0
Reese-Sparks, Carl Albert, def. Arnold-Miller, Durant, 6-1, 6-0
NO. 2 DOUBLES
First Round
Baker-Hays, Crossings Christian, def. Bowman-Jones, Classen, 6-1, 6-1
Harms-Jones, Altus, def. Hurst-Joice, Pryor, 2-6, 6-2, 7-5
Brooks-DeWitt, Bishop Kelley, def. Edberg-Shelton, Guthrie, 6-3, 6-2
Blasdel-Smith, Heritage Hall, def. Baker-Brinkley, Tahlequah, 6-1, 6-2
Gilliam-Oudit, Carl Albert, def. Garcia-Preston, Durant, 6-1, 6-0
Hood-McCoy, Cascia Hall, def. Farr-Mitchell, Tulsa BTW, 6-4, 6-3
Mois-Pitale, Casady, def. Lander-Snedegar, Metro Christian, 6-4, 5-7, 7-6(4)
Churchman-Mitchell, Duncan, Newsom-Timmons, Shawnee, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4
Class 4A Boys
NO. 1 SINGLES
First Round
Max Beard, Regent Prep, def. Jacob Holloway, Byng, 6-0, 6-0
Quinn Brewer, Elk City, def. Waylon Smith, Ardmore, 6-2, 6-4
Quinn Steenson, Riverfield, def. Jayden Ashton, Wagoner, 6-0, 6-2
Ian Ward, Harding Charter, def. Gus Byrd, Ada, 6-1, 6-1
Henry Corbin, The Academy, def. Truman Adams, Oklahoma Christian Aca., 6-0, 6-0
Cruz Palomino, Holland Hall, def. Landon Brown, Woodward, 6-0, 6-0
William Berry, Douglass, def. Ethan Ryder, Lincoln Christian, 6-0, 6-1
Trendon Ayers, Oklahoma Christian School, def. Jeff Webster, Henryetta, 6-0, 6-0
NO. 2 SINGLES
First Round
Joe Dvorak, Ardmore, def. CJ Trevino, Rejoice Christian, 6-0, 6-0
Cedar Thomas, Ada, def. Caleb Darr, Mount St. Mary, 6-3, 6-1
Brayden Tyrrell, OCS, def. Andreas Markey, Harding Charter, 6-4, 6-2
Andy Robbins, The Academy, def. Carter Lillie, Oklahoma Bibble, 6-1, 6-0
Joel Ferguson, OCA, def. Cade Johnson, Regent Prep, 6-2, 6-0
Cole Patterson, Riverfield, def. Chase Jobe, Lincoln Christian, 6-3, 6-2
Brady Henry, Holland Hall, def. Kael Humphries, Wagoner, 6-1, 6-0
Kade Duncan, Elk City, def. Adam Hensley, Byng, 6-2, 7-5
NO. 1 DOUBLES
First Round
Harrison-Ware, Byng, def. Allen-Ward, Mount St. Mary, 6-0, 6-1
Lemonds-Moore, Wagoner, def. Bevans-Smith, Ardmore, 6-3, 6-3
Nelson-Wagner, Lincoln Christian, def. Schneidau-Watson, Regent Prep, 6-3, 6-1
Brewer-Coslow, Elk City, def. Hobbs-Holbrook, OCS, 6-3, 6-1
Aaronson-Vaidya, Holland Hall, def. Chesher-Martin, Riverfield, 6-2, 6-2
Corbin-Morris, The Academy, def. Kommer-Mullins, Tecumseh, 6-2, 6-0
Green-Maness, Pauls Valley, def. Marguier-Matlock, Henryetta, 7-5, 6-3
Jacobs-Moon, Ada, def. Redman-Smith, OCA, 6-1, 6-0
NO. 2 DOUBLES
First Round
Bristow-Herman, Holland Hall, def. Mason-McCullough, Tecumseh, 6-1, 6-0
Corbin-Gund, Riverfield, def. Paine-Lopez, Victory Christian, 6-3, 6-2
Gridley-Morris, The Academy, def. Braun-Kolker, Mount St. Mary, 6-2, 6-2
Anderson-Cody, Ada, def. Ferguson-Milner, OCA, 6-4, 6-0
Johnston-Thompson, Lincoln Christian, def. Burnett-Duncan, OCS, 6-2, 7-5
Good-Seger, Wagoner, def. Clayton-Hill, Henryetta, 6-1, 6-4
Leslie-Mornhinweg, Byng, def. Luna-Walter, Elk City, 6-4, 7-5
Fields-Odom, Ardmore, def. Alvarado-Hicks, Pauls Valley, 6-1, 6-1
Oklahoma filed a lawsuit against Roblox on Thursday, becoming the latest state to take legal action against the popular gaming platform over child safety concerns.
“Roblox marketed itself as a safe place for children but turned a blind eye as predators targeted and exploited minors on its platform,” Attorney General Gentner Drummond said in a press release on Thursday.
In the 51-page lawsuit filed in Cleveland County District Court, Drummond claims that Roblox failed to implement basic safety controls, prioritizing user growth over child safety, and that the platform “facilitated the systemic sexual exploitation and abuse of children across Oklahoma and elsewhere in the United States.”
The platform’s design, the suit alleges, prevents parents from being aware of their child’s activity, resulting in exposure to “dangerous adults” and to encounters involving violence and sexual content.
In September, according to the lawsuit, an Oklahoma mother sued Roblox after her then-12-year-old daughter was coerced into sending explicit photos and videos to a man in his forties posing as a teenager on the platform.
Over the last year, a swath of lawsuits have sprung up across the country alleging an online environment within Roblox that facilitates child exploitation.
A CBS News investigation last year found at least a dozen instances of hate speech on Roblox targeting minority groups and dozens of swastikas in one game where users were able to bypass safety moderations.
Oklahoma’s suit alleges violations under the state’s Consumer Protection Act, claiming that Roblox made misrepresentations to consumers by not disclosing “the true nature of the risks of harm posed to children.” Oklahoma is seeking civil penalties for each violation of the act and permanent injunctions prohibiting deceptive practices and requiring the implementation of “meaningful and lasting” safeguards.
The platform hosts over 150 million active daily users, according to Roblox, and as many as two-thirds of U.S. children between 9 and 12 years old have accounts, Oklahoma’s lawsuit claims.
Roblox says on its website that the company applies “rigorous build-in protections and tools” and leverages partnerships with child safety experts. It announced last month that it will launch expanded parental controls for users under 16 in June.
In a statement to CBS News, Roblox Chief Safety Officer Matt Kaufman said the company has built a multilayered safety system for user protection that deploys AI-powered detection, human moderation and filters designed to prevent the exchange of personal information.
“We share Attorney General Drummond’s commitment to child online safety,” Kaufman said. “With that said, we are disappointed that he has filed a lawsuit that both fundamentally misrepresents how Roblox works and fails to take into account the extensive, industry-leading proactive measures the company is taking to set a new standard in online safety.”
The company said it is the first online gaming platform to require age checks for all users accessing chat features, and noted that it does not allow the exchange of images or videos in chats.
Kaufman said Roblox works closely with law enforcement when it identifies violations and that “while no system can be perfect,” the company is constantly strengthening user protections. “We look forward to working constructively with Attorney General Drummond to help keep kids safe online,” he said.
At least nine states including Oklahoma have sued Roblox and at least three others have reached settlements with the platform.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma judge allows former death row prisoner to be released on bond while awaiting retrial
An Oklahoma judge on Thursday allowed former death row prisoner Richard Glossip to be released on bond while awaiting retrial over a 1997 killing that put him on the brink of execution three separate times.
The decision clears the way for Glossip, 63, to leave a lockup for the first time since his arrest nearly 30 years ago. Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court threw out his conviction, and his longstanding claims of innocence have drawn support from Kim Kardashian and other prominent figures.
READ MORE: Supreme Court throws out Oklahoma man Richard Glossip’s murder conviction and death sentence
Judge Natalie Mai issued an order setting bond at $500,000. Glossip must wear an electronic monitoring device and will not be allowed to travel outside Oklahoma. He also must not contact any witnesses in the case, or consume any drugs or alcohol.
It was unclear Thursday when Glossip would be released. He will have to post only 10%, or $50,000, and the process could take two or three days, said his attorney Donald Knight.
Knight also suggested Glossip is counting on contributions to raise the money.
“Mr. Glossip has many supporters and we are hopeful those supporters can afford the bail,” Knight said.
Protestors and family members embrace after hearing the news of Governor Mary Fallin issuing a stay for death row inmate Richard Glossip outside the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester, Oklahoma, September 30, 2015. Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin on Wednesday granted inmate Richard Glossip a 37-day stay of execution to give the state time to address whether its execution protocols comply with procedures approved by the federal court. Glossip, 52, was found guilty of arranging the 1997 murder of Barry Van Treese, the owner of an Oklahoma City motel that Glossip was managing. Photo by Nick Oxford/Reuters.
Glossip had been sentenced to death over the 1997 killing in Oklahoma City of his former boss, motel owner Barry Van Treese, in what prosecutors have alleged was a murder-for-hire scheme.
The Supreme Court ruled last year that prosecutors’ decision to allow a key witness to give testimony they knew to be false violated Glossip’s constitutional right to a fair trial.
Glossip has remained behind bars after Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond announced the state would seek to retry him on a murder charge but not pursue the death penalty again.
“The court fully expects that the state will rigorously prosecute its case going forward and the defense will provide robust representation for Glossip,” the judge wrote in the order. “The court hopes that a new trial, free of error, will provided all interested parties and the citizens of Oklahoma, the closure they deserve.”
During his time on death row, courts in Oklahoma set nine different execution dates for Glossip, and he came so close to being put to death that he ate three separate last meals. In 2015, he was even held in a cell next to Oklahoma’s execution chamber, waiting to be strapped to a gurney and die by lethal injection.
But the scheduled time for his execution came and went. Behind the walls of the Oklahoma State Penitentiary, prison officials were scrambling after learning one of the lethal drugs they received to carry out the procedure didn’t match the execution protocols. The drug mix-up ultimately led to a nearly seven-year moratorium on executions in Oklahoma.
“Mr. Glossip now has the chance to taste freedom while his defense team continues to pursue justice on his behalf against a system that the United States Supreme Court has found to be guilty of serious misconduct by state prosecutors,” Knight said.
Glossip’s case attracted international attention after actress Susan Sarandon — who won an Academy Award for her portrayal of death penalty opponent Sister Helen Prejean’s fight to save a man on Louisiana’s death row in the 1995 movie “Dead Man Walking” — took up his cause in real life. Glossip’s case also was featured in the 2017 documentary film titled “Killing Richard Glossip.”
“Both Richard and I are grateful for the court’s decision,” Glossip’s wife, Lea, said in a text to The Associated Press. “We have been praying for this day.”
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