Hours before he was scheduled to die, Marcellus Williams’ life is spared… again

FILE - This February 2014 file photo provided by the Missouri Department of Corrections shows death row inmate Marcellus Williams. Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens halted Williams’ scheduled execution Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017, after DNA raised questions about his guilt. Williams was convicted of fatally stabbing former St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter Lisha Gayle during a burglary at her suburban St. Louis home in 1998. Williams' execution was scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday. (Missouri Department of Corrections via AP, File)

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Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens (R) stayed the execution of Marcellus Williams, 48, following public outcry to do so. Williams was previously granted a stay of execution in 2015 only to have it denied it again earlier in August despite DNA evidence exonerating him of the 1998 stabbing death of former St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter Lisha Gayle, 42.

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Greitens announced the decision only hours before Williams was scheduled to die via lethal injection on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

RARE OPINION: The death penalty is incompatible with American liberty

“A sentence of death is the ultimate, permanent punishment. To carry out the death penalty, the people of Missouri must have confidence in the judgment of guilt. In light of new information, I am appointing a Board of Inquiry in this case,” Greitens announced in a statement.

The statement also announced that Greitens will choose the five members of the board.

Prior to the decision, many on the internet spent part of Monday and much of Tuesday spreading awareness of Williams’ story using .

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