Olen Edward Hutchison is a 60-year-old descendant of the Navajo and Cherokee imprisoned on Tennessee's death row. Mr. Hutchison is facing execution on May 12, 2015, for a murder for which he was not present and was only circumstantially implicated by co-defendants who obtained reduced sentences for their testimony.

The prosecution alleged Mr. Hutchison was in charge of a seven-man scheme to collect life insurance proceeds for the murder Mr. Hugh Huddleston. Evidence not disclosed at the time of trial substantially undermines this theory and played a key role in the jury sentencing Mr. Hutchison to death. The men who actually carried out the murder received prison sentences and some are now free.  See www.OlenHutchison.com

Olen Hutchison denies participating in the crime and plainly was not given a fair trial by the State. Even if one does not believe that Mr. Hutchison is completely innocent, there is no dispute that he did not participate directly in the murder. It is patently unjust to execute Olen Hutchison, while the State allows those who were directly responsible for the victim’s death to live and go free.

Unlike the other active participants to the victim’s drowing, prior to this run-in with the law, Olen Hutchison had no criminal history or history of violence. He was a law-abiding, responsible member of society who, even if all the prosecution’s allegations are true, did not actively take part in the crime. Mr. Hutchison is a model prisoner who has gained the respect and trust of inmates and corrections staff and who exercises a calming influence upon others. He may be the first and only death row inmate to earn a bachelors and masters degree while incarcerated. He is currently working towards a doctorate degree. Mr. Hutchison achieved much of his academic success during his ongoing battle with stage 4 throat cancer.

Under these circumstances, the punishment of Mr. Hutchison is severely disproportionate to his actual culpability and to what others involved in the crime received. It would be a glaring miscarriage of justice to carry out the death sentence against Olen Hutchison while those directly responsible for the crime are now free or live in prison with upcoming parole dates.

Olen Hutchison's death sentence should be commuted to a sentence of life imprisonment.