A Georgia man, Willie James Pye, is facing execution for the 1993 killing of Alicia Lynn Yarbrough. Pye's lawyers are seeking clemency for him, arguing that he is intellectually disabled and has shown remorse for his actions. They highlight Pye's troubled upbringing marked by poverty, neglect, and violence as factors that should be considered in his case.
Pye, along with two others, planned to rob Yarbrough's partner but ended up taking Yarbrough from her home, where she was found alone with her baby. The group then proceeded to rape Yarbrough before Pye shot her three times, resulting in her death. Pye was convicted of murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, rape, and burglary in 1996 and was sentenced to death.
His lawyers argue that Pye's trial lawyer failed to adequately prepare for the sentencing phase of the trial and that Pye's intellectual disabilities make him ineligible for execution. They also point to Pye's positive influence on others during his time in prison as a reason for clemency.
Despite a ruling in Pye's favor by a three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the full federal appeals court overturned the decision in October 2022. Pye's co-defendant, Chester Adams, received multiple life sentences for his role in the crime.
A clemency hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, with the execution set for Wednesday using pentobarbital. The outcome of the hearing will determine Pye's fate as he awaits a decision on whether his sentence will be commuted.
