Millions signed a petition in support of Jones after a 2018 documentary about his innocence claims. Related: Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board hears from Julius Jones, votes to recommend clemency His local and national supporters put immense pressure on Stitt to grant clemency.

Jones has maintained he is innocent, claiming his co-defendant shot and killed Howell and pinned the slaying on him. Prater has advocated for Jones' execution. Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater declined to comment on Stitt's decision, saying he wished to talk first with members of Howell's family. 'A thorough review of the evidence confirms Julius Jones' guilt in this case and that the death penalty was warranted.' '(W)e are greatly disappointed that after 22 years, four appeals, including the review of 13 appellate Judges, the work of the investigators, prosecutors, jurors and the trial Judge have been set aside,' O'Connor said in a statement. More: OKC students stage walkouts ahead of Julius Jones' executions date Stitt appointed O'Connor to serve as the state's chief prosecutor after former Attorney General Mike Hunter resigned. Oklahoma Attorney General John O'Connor said though he appreciates the governor stipulating that Jones never be released from prison, he's still convinced of the inmate's guilt.

'I am grateful that after today’s decision by the governor, that can no longer happen.' “For over twenty years, I have been haunted by the idea of watching my baby boy die in an execution chamber for a murder that occurred when he was home with his family,' said Madeline Davis-Jones. But she also expressed her thanks to Stitt. Jones' mother said she will never stop fighting to free her son, calling every day he spends behind bars an injustice.

'While we had hoped the Governor would adopt the Board’s recommendation in full by commuting Julius’s sentence to life with the possibility of parole in light of the overwhelming evidence of Julius’s innocence, we are grateful that the Governor has prevented an irreparable mistake.” “Governor Stitt took an important step today towards restoring public faith in the criminal justice system by ensuring that Oklahoma does not execute an innocent man,' attorney Amanda Bass said in a statement. Jones' attorney praised the governor for blocking the execution, but said she had hoped Stitt would have granted her client the option of parole. Some who have proclaimed Jones is innocent are unlikely to be entirely satisfied with Stitt's decision to keep him locked behind bars. Stitt met with members of the Howell family while he was deliberating on the clemency decision. Stitt personally called the Howell family Thursday morning to let them know his decision about 30 minutes before they planned to leave for the execution.

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