Richard Glossip booked into OK County Detention Center after decades on death row

After spending nearly three decades on death row, 62-year-old Richard Glossip may finally be getting a new chance at justice.

The U.S. Supreme Court overturned his murder conviction in February, ruling that prosecutors had failed to turn over critical evidence that could have helped prove his innocence. On Monday, the court issued a formal order sending Glossip’s case back to a lower court, and he was transferred to the Oklahoma County Jail early Tuesday morning.

“I’m not a murderer, and I don’t deserve to die for this,” Glossip has said in the past, maintaining his innocence since the beginning.

Glossip was convicted of orchestrating the 1997 murder of his boss, motel owner Barry Van Treese. The man who committed the murder, Justin Sneed, admitted to the killing but testified that Glossip had hired him. Glossip was tried twice, convicted both times, and sentenced to death.

For the Van Treese family, the case has dragged on. At a past clemency hearing, Van Treese’s widow, Donna, said, “On January 7th, 1997—that’s the day my entire world shattered.”

The family has said they’ve felt imprisoned too, waiting for Glossip’s death sentence to be carried out.

However, Glossip’s fate may now be shifting. Legal experts say that while a new trial is possible, other options are also on the table, including a plea deal, a reduced sentence for time already served, or even the possibility that the case could be dismissed altogether. For now, it's still under review by the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office and the state Attorney General’s Office.

Glossip’s wife, Lea, has stood by his side throughout the ordeal, hoping this next step leads to his release.

Mr. Glossip’s legal team on Tuesday released this statement:

“As we understand it, Rich Glossip has been moved from death row to the Oklahoma County jail. This move has been expected since the Supreme Court vacated his conviction in February and the mandate that issued from the OCCA on April 18, 2025. We look forward to further proceedings in the District Court.”