The death sentence of convicted killer Travis E. Glass has been commuted to life in prison without parole.
The decision avoids a jury trial over punishment that was to have started Monday in Callaway County.
The Palmyra man was 21 when authorities said he confessed to strangling 13-year-old Steffini Wilkins of Hannibal on May 25, 2001. Wilkins’ mother, Liz Campbell, was not available for comment Friday.
Ralls County Prosecuting Attorney Rodney Rodenbaugh was an assistant prosecutor when the case began and had been involved with it ever since.
“I consulted with the family and by withdrawing the attempt to seek the death penalty this will bring closure to the case,” Rodenbaugh said.
Glass’ public defender, Thomas J. Jacquinot, called the commutation an “act of mercy” because Glass “had no other appeals” left in the state court system. Jacquinot said he and Rodenbaugh had discussed a deal for some time.
“Once it’s given, there’s choice on whether you accept it,” Jacquinot said. “Mr. Glass and his entire family were relieved and touched by this outcome. We’re still very sorry that this tragedy occurred, and feel very blessed we had this merciful outcome in the end.”
Jacquinot said he “firmly” believes Glass is sorry.
“I think it was true remorse and remorse that continues to this date, and remorse that will continue the rest of his life as he spends it in prison,” Jacquinot said.
Background
Glass got to know Wilkins after her mother hired him in March 2001 as a bartender at her business, Ole Milt’s in downtown Hannibal.
Glass visited Wilkins at the Campbell home at least three times. Wilkins would also drop by the bar and joke with Glass, and talked with him on the telephone.
Two weeks before the murder, Campbell fired Glass for missing work. The last time Campbell saw her daughter alive was sitting at a computer in their home around 8:30 p.m. May 24, just before Campbell left for work.
Glass showed up at the tavern later that night and drank beer until about 11:15 p.m. The last time anyone heard from Wilkins was between 11:15 and 11:30 p.m., when she talked with a friend on the telephone.
Glass told authorities that after leaving Ole Milt’s, he went to see Wilkins and kissed her. He said that when he tried to have sex, Wilkins threatened to call her mother and screamed.
Glass told investigators he put his hand over her mouth and that she went limp. He then put her into his car and drove her to a Salt River boat access along Route O north of New London.
In talking with detectives, Glass said he uttered the words “God forgive me for what I am about to do” just before he strangled Wilkins with her bra.
Campbell reported her daughter missing when she returned from work about 3 a.m. May 25. A fisherman found Wilkins’ body in the grass near the boat ramp about 7:45 a.m.
Court cases
Despite what authorities said was a confession from Glass during an interview on the evening of May 25, the defendant pleaded not guilty at a court appearance on Aug. 7, 2001.
In January 2002, then-Ralls County Prosecutor John Briscoe announced he would seek the death penalty if Glass was convicted.
The trial began Nov. 19, 2002, in Columbia, where it had been moved on a change of venue. The jury deliberated for two hours on Nov. 20 before finding Glass guilty.
Glass showed no emotion as the verdict was read, and he did the same the next day when the jury after seven hours of deliberation returned with the death sentence.
Campbell walked over to Glass’ mother and said “I’m sorry.”
“Me, too,” Glass’ mother responded.
Campbell and the victim’s father, Gene Wilkins, arranged to have a large bell set up on the courthouse lawn. It was rung 13 times in honor of each year of their daughter’s life.
“I feel like a million tons is lifted with the guilty verdict,” Campbell told the Courier-Post. “I feel Steffini can rest in peace, and the children can trust in the system.”
The case, however, was far from over.
On March 29, 2006, Circuit Judge Gary Oxenhandler overturned the death sentence, ruling that the penalty phase at the original trial was not fair because Glass’ lawyer had not done a good job in calling witnesses.
On April 26, 2007, the issue went before the Missouri Supreme Court. On July 6, the court voted 4-3 to grant Glass a new penalty hearing.
One of the three justices who dissented was Hannibal native Mary Rhodes Russell. She expressed incredulity with Oxenhandler’s decision.
“Under the motion court's reasoning, in order to be effective, counsel upon remand would have to investigate and call as mitigating witnesses essentially every person who has ever encountered Glass throughout his life,” Russell wrote. “This reasoning is impractical and illogical.”
Russell said Glass didn't meet the standard set forth in the U.S. Supreme Court's 1984 Strickland v. Washington decision, which said a defense lawyer's strategic choices are “virtually unchallengeable.”
Since then, the defense and prosecution were involved in a series of motions and hearings.
On Friday, Callaway County Judge Kevin M. Crane finalized the judgment of life in prison without probation or parole.
Hannibal, MO —
