Raymond Johnson is scheduled for execution in Oklahoma on May 14, 2026 for the 2007 murders of Brooke Whitaker and her daughter, Kya.

• Raymond accepts responsibility for his crime. He regrets his past actions and would continue to do well in the structured environment of prison if he is granted clemency.
• Raymond thrives in prison. He is a practicing Christian and an integral member of the Church of the Brethren. He receives sermons and corresponds with church members, even encouraging older church members through letters. He has been visited by his fellow church members and remains an important part of the church community.
• The structure of death row has allowed Raymond to lead church services, care for his fellow inmates through working to improve conditions, and correspond regularly with his family and church members. His kids rely on his counsel and value their relationship with their father.
• Raymond is also a creative writer. He writes uplifting devotions, prayer, and poems. He contributes to online publications, and his writing has a positive impact on others.

Below the Virtual Sit-In information is a transcript of a conversation Raymond Johnson had with his spiritual advisor. You can read or hear his arguments in his own words.

We can be safe from people who have committed awful crimes and hold them accountable without executions.  We know this because that is what we do in the vast majority of cases. It is not necessary to carry out this or any other execution in Oklahoma.

Join the Virtual Sit In

Call Gov. Stitt at 405-521-2342 with the following message:

"Hi. My name is [your name]. I am calling to urge Gov. Stitt to grant clemency to Raymond Johnson who faces execution on May 14, 2026. Raymond's case is rife with prosecutorial misconduct, ineffective counsel, and mitigation that was not presented to a jury. Raymond is a member of the Manchester Church of the Brethren in Indiana. He has developed close relationships within his church community, including with is pastor, Kurt Borgmann. Raymond has used his experiences and faith as a force for good, including counseling inside and outside of the prison walls. He is also a writer."

REGISTER FOR THE VIRTUAL VIGIL BEGINNING AT 9AM CT ON 5/14/26.

MY STORY - Click to listen.

by Raymond Johnson

* I TRIED TO PLEAD GUILTY TO 2 LIFE WITHOUT PAROLES, TO AVOID A TRIAL, BUT WAS TOLD "THEY *PROMISED* THE VICTIM'S FAMILY THE DEATH PENALTY!

* SO I'M NOW FORCED TO GO TO TRIAL, AND THERE IS ONE MITIGATING FACTOR, THAT WAS THE TRUE CAUSE OF MY CRIME...*EVEN THOUGH IT DOESN'T JUSTIFY IT BY NO MEANS* IT DOES PUT THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE. WHEN I TOLD MY TRIAL ATTORNEY, HE DIDN'T BELIEVE ME. THEN SHORTLY BEFORE THE TRIAL, THE TRUTH OF IT WAS REVEALED, AND SHARED WITH THE STATE...THE STATE DID NO INVESTIGATION INTO IT, EVEN THOUGH THIS WAS A SERIOUS CRIME THAT WAS COMMITTED ON ME!

* SO WE OPEN OUR TRIAL, I HAVE TO PLEAD NOT GUILTY, BECAUSE THE STATE IS SEEKING DEATH, BUT IN OPENING ARGUMENTS, MY ATTORNEY SAID THAT I WAS GUILTY...BUT HE WOULD EXPLAIN WHY I DID WHAT I DID! {THIS IS A PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT} THE JUDGE MADE HIM APPROACH THE BENCH, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS SAID, UNTIL YEARS LATER, HAVING MY TRANSCRIPTS. SHE SAID SHE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ME PLEADING NOT GUILTY AND HIM STARTING OFF MY OPENING ARGUMENTS ADMITTING MY GUILT, AND SHE SAID THAT SHE NEEDED ME ON RECORD SAYING THAT I WAS OK WITH THIS STRATEGY...BUT MY ATTORNEY TALKED HER OUT OF PUTTING ME ON RECORD. {A PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT ON HER BEHALF}

* MY ATTORNEY REFUSED TO GO AFTER THE PERSON HE NEEDED TO GO AFTER, AND IT NOW LEAD HIM TO SAYING I WAS GUILTY, BUT NOT SHOWING WHY I DID WHAT I DID. {AND I HAVE A SIGNED AFFIDAVIT FROM MY SECOND CHAIR TRIAL ATTORNEY THAT SAID HE NOR I KNEW ABOUT THIS STRATEGY AND HOW THE LEAD ATTORNEY AND *HEAD* PUBLIC DEFENDER PETE SILVA HAD JUST WENT ROGUE CONCERNING THIS ISSUE}

* MY DIRECT APPEAL IS ASSIGNED TO SOMEONE WHO WORKS UNDER MY LEAD ATTORNEY WHO WAS THE *HEAD* PUBLIC DEFENDER. HE ASKED TO BE RECUSED FROM MY CASE BECAUSE HE SAID IT'S A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BECAUSE HE WOULD HAVE TO FILE INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL AGAINST HIS BOSS...***AND HE WOULDN'T DO THIS!*** YET HE WASN'T RECUSED FROM MY CASE!
I REMEMBER HIM COMING TO VISIT ME AND HE CRIED BECAUSE HE WASN'T GOING TO DO WHAT I NEEDED. BUT I WAS STUPID AND FORGAVE HIM, BECAUSE I HAD OTHER APPEALS. I THOUGHT, SO WHAT HE DON'T DO IT, THEY WILL GET IT....

* I NEXT GO TO OKLAHOMA INDIGENT DEFENSE SYSTEM. THEY WOULDN'T ACCEPT MY CALLS. I WAS LUCKY TO GET THEM TO ACCEPT ONE A MONTH. I DIDN'T HAVE A COPY OF MY *FULL* TRANSCRIPTS UNTIL AFTER THEY HAD FILED WHAT THEY FILED, SO I HAD NO INPUT IN WHAT WAS TO BE SAID CONCERNING MY LIFE.

* NEXT I'M ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND NOW ALL THE WORK IS BEING DONE. THEY BELIEVE ME WHEN I TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED TO ME TO CAUSE ME TO FLIP OUT AND COMMIT MY CRIME. EVEN GOT A GREAT PSYCHIATRIST WHO DEALS WITH PTSD TO AFFIRM MY MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCE. THEY BRING UP THE ISSUES OF MY TRIAL ATTORNEY ADMITTING MY GUILT AND THE JUDGE BEING TALKED INTO NOT PUTTING ME ON RECORD WITH SAYING I'M OK WITH THIS STRATEGY. THEY EVEN BRING UP HOW THE DIRECT APPEAL ATTORNEY DIDN'T DO HIS JOB AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECUSED.

AN APPEALS JUDGE AGREES AND ALLOWS THESE *AND * OTHER ISSUES THAT HE FEELS ARE VIABLE TO HAVE ORAL ARGUMENTS ON....BUT THEN THE STATE ARGUES THAT NONE OF THIS WAS ARGUED ON MY STATE LEVEL OF APPEALS AND NONE OF THIS PROVES MY INNOCENCE SO IT SHOULD/CANNOT BE INTRODUCED AS NEW EVIDENCE.

THE JUDGE AGREES, COMPLIES, AND I LOST ALL APPEALS BECAUSE THAT RINGS TRUE ON EVERY LEVEL.

YES I'M GUILTY, BUT WAS WILLING TO TAKE 2 LIFE WITHOUT PAROLES, SO WHY PURSUE DEATH?
WHEN WE ALLOW THE SYSTEM TO DO *ANYTHING* (IGNORING LAWS, JUSTICE, PROCEDURES, PROPER APPEALS) THAT SAME SYSTEM THAT DOES THIS TO GUILTY PEOPLE WILL DO IT TO THE INNOCENT AS WELL.

THAT IS WHY I BELIEVE THE FIGHT FOR A BROKEN SYSTEM SHOULD BE FOR ALL AND NOT A SELECT FEW!

DO I BELONG IN PRISON? YES, BUT IF THAT JURY OR APPEALS KNEW MY MITIGATING FACTOR, I DOUBT ANYONE WOULD THINK I DESERVE DEATH! THE JURY NEVER HEARD, AND THE JUDGE COULDN'T HEAR IT BECAUSE LAWYERS DIDN'T DO THEIR JOB...WHY SHOULD THAT COST ME MY LIFE?

RAYMOND E. JOHNSON
OKLAHOMA DEATH ROW


P.S.

* SINCE BEING ON DEATH ROW, I HAVE BECOME A MEMBER OF MANCHESTER CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN, IN NORTH MANCHESTER, INDIANA. THIS RELATIONSHIP/FELLOWSHIP GREW THROUGH MY VERY 1ST PEN PAL, DAVID WAAS, A RETIRED HISTORY PROFESSOR. A GREAT SIGNIFICANCE, AS THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN ARE PACIFIST AND HAVE REALLY TAUGHT ME THE WAY OF THE BRETHREN.
I HAVE VARIOUS RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN MY CHURCH INCLUDING A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH MY PASTOR, KURT BORGMANN WHO I TALK ON THE PHONE REGULARLY AND HE VISITS ME AS WELL.

* I HAVE WORKED WITH THE ACLU OF OKLAHOMA FOR SEVERAL YEARS TO IMPROVE THE CONDITIONS OF CONFINEMENT HERE ON DEATH ROW AND AT OUR PRISON.

* I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH COUNSELLING AND WITNESSING THROUGH MY FAITH, INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THESE PRISON WALLS, REGULARLY.

* I AM A REGULAR CONTRIBUTOR TO DEATH ROW SOUL COLLECTIVE, A PLATFORM THAT GIVES DEATH ROW PRISONERS A PLATFORM TO HAVE A VOICE. I SHARE MY FAITH AND EXPERIENCES OF INJUSTICE, TO HELP OTHERS, AND TRY TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO KEEP THE FAITH AND REMAIN HOPEFUL