Julius Jones death row sentence commuted, changed to life without parole

Jones was scheduled to be executed on Thursday.

After spending the past 20 years fighting for his life on death row, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt commuted Julius Jones' sentence to life without the possibility of parole the day Jones was scheduled to be executed.

"After prayerful consideration and reviewing materials presented by all sides of this case, I have determined to commute Julius Jones' sentence to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole," Stitt said in a statement released Thursday.

Last week, a federal appeals court rejected Jones' final appeal, which meant the decision to spare his life lay only with Stitt, who accepted the parole board's recommendation to grant Jones clemency. Jones' execution date was slated for Nov. 18.

In September, the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board recommended Stitt commute Jones' sentence to life in prison with the possibility of parole. Stitt said at the time he was waiting for a clemency hearing to make a decision.