Prayer Vigils for the Execution of Michael Smith

April 3, 2024
Wednesday within the Octave of Easter

PRESS RELEASE

On Thursday, April 4, 2024, Michael Dewayne Smith, age 41, is scheduled to be executed for the Oklahoma County murders of Janet Moore, age 41 and Sharath “Babu” Pulluru, age 22. Both died in separate shootings in Oklahoma City in 2002.

Smith was a member of the criminal group known as the Oak Grove Posse (OGP), a subset of the Oklahoma City Crisps gang. In November 2000, three OGP members attempted to rob a convenience store in Oklahoma City. The failed robbery left one gang member dead, shot and killed by the store owner. The two others were later arrested. Smith was not involved in the robbery, but was a close friend of the OGP member who was killed.

On February 22, 2002, two days before the trial for the two OGP members was to start, Smith, then age 19, tracked down a man he believed to be a police informant. At approximately 6:30am, armed with a .357 revolver, Smith kicked in the door to the apartment of Janet Moore, whose son he believed was the informant. When she started screaming Smith shot her to death. He then wiped down the apartment to avoid leaving fingerprints.

An hour later, Smith went to a convenience store located immediately next door the site of the failed robbery attempt of November 2000. Once there, he shot and killed Sarath “Babu” Pulluru, the clerk on duty. Taking money from the cash register, Smith then used lighter fluid to set fire to Pulluru’s body, as well as starting fires around the store in an attempt to destroy evidence. Afterwards, Smith disposed of the clothing he had been wearing during the murders.

The next day Smith told two different people of the killings. One of them later contacted law enforcement, who had by this time had taken Smith into custody on a different issue. After waiving his Miranda rights, he was interviewed by police detectives. During a videotaped interview Smith admitted to shooting both Moore and Pulluru in retaliation for perceived wrongs done to him and his family. Placed on trial, Smith was convicted on two counts of first-degree murder in 2003 and sentenced to death.

Smith has since retracted his confession and maintains that he is innocent. He claims that he was under the influence of drugs when he waived his Miranda rights and confessed to police investigators. His appeal attorneys have argued that Smith has an intellectual disability due to head injuries caused by physical childhood abuse. This condition has been worsened by long term drug use.

On March 5, 2024, the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted 4-1 against recommending clemency for Smith. Having exhausted his court appeals, without a stay of execution he will be put to death on Thursday, April 4, at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester.

In peaceful opposition to the death penalty, a prayer vigil will take place that day near the front gate of the penitentiary starting at 9:00am. It will continue until the execution has taken place shortly after 10:00am. Prayers will be offered for Moore, Pulluru, and Smith, their families, and the correction officers taking part in the execution. People of all faiths are welcome to participate.

Other vigils taking place on April 4 in opposition to the execution include:

Oklahoma City:

The Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty will host a vigil outside the Governor’s Mansion, 820 NE 223^rd Street at Philip Avenue starting at 9am.

Tulsa Metro:

St. Joseph Monastery, 2200 South Lewis, Tulsa, from 9:30am to 10:30am.

St. Scholastica Chapel at the Church of Saint Benedict, 2200 West Ithica Street, Broken Arrow. No formal service is planned but the chapel will be open to those who wish to pray for this intention.

McAlester:

Death Penalty Action will hold a vigil near the front gate of the penitentiary starting at 9am.