Stop the Execution of Thomas Creech in Idaho

Idaho Governor Brad Little

Thomas Creech has been denied a clemency recommendation and may soon be executed in Idaho for the 1981 murder of David Jensen. His execution was halted mid-procedure on February 28 after prison staff failed 8 attempts to set an IV-line.

[UPDATE 6pm MT on November 7, 2024: A federal judge has stayed this execution pending further litigation.]

Mr. Creech had a clemency hearing in January, 2024 and received a vote by the Idaho Parole Commission of 3 members for clemency and 3 members against, with one abstention. Without a clear majority, a clemency recommendation is denied.  A request for the full panel of the Idaho Parole Commission to reconsider the case was denied on October 29, 2024.

Reasons to Support Clemency for Tom Creech.  Page references are to Tom's original clemency petition, which may be read here.

  • Tom has been expressing deep remorse for his crime over many years. (PP. 8–9). With his strong Christian faith, he “understands that he needs the Lord’s forgiveness for his actions.” (P. 9). As one friend of Tom’s says, executing him “would deny all possibility of further repentance and change that would offer reconciliation with God.” (P. 9).
  • Tom has been a model inmate with a nearly spotless prison record for 30 years. (P. 5). The director of the prison system in Idaho asked him to serve as an ambassador with visitors because he “was the most stable and respectful person on death row.” (P. 3). Tom is an ailing 73-year-old man who poses no threat in prison. There is no need to execute him.
  • Tom was sentenced to death by a single judge. That judge now sees that no “purpose would be served by executing” Tom and that “an execution would “just be an act of vengeance.” (PP. 1–2).
  • Tom’s request for mercy is supported by many of the prison staff with whom he has lived for more than 40 years on death row. (PP. 2–5).
  • Tom’s execution would traumatize the guards who have grown close to him. (PP. 5–7). Guards already do a tough job to serve the public and the last thing they need is more trauma. Those around the country who have done it are haunted by the experience. One warden wakes up at night seeing the men he executed staring at him. (P. 6).
  • Tom uses his mistakes to mentor younger prisoners, who he tells not to “mess up like me.” (P. 8). Executing him would destroy that positive influence.
  • Tom has become an extraordinarily caring, compassionate, thoughtful man who has built strong ties with guards, friends, family members, and his wife of 20-plus years. (PP. 9–10). His execution would send out a ripple of pain and suffering for the many innocent people who care for him.

Idaho's scheduling of an execution makes the state an outlier in its use of the death penalty while the majority of other states are on a downward trend of executions. Only a handful of states have carried out death sentences in recent years - continuing a system that targets the poor, the mentally ill and people of color.

Please sign the petition asking the Idaho Commission of Pardons and Parole to do everything within its power to stop this execution, including issuing a stay, and seeking a path to clemency in the case.

Sponsored by
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Death Penalty Action

To: Idaho Governor Brad Little
From: [Your Name]

We are writing to ask that you stop the execution of Thomas Creech, whom Idaho wants to kill in revenge for his 1981 murder of David Jensen.

Idaho citizens have been kept safe for years without executions and there is no reason to resume killing prisoners now.

The following statements reference page numbers from Mr. Creech's clemency petition.

Tom has been expressing deep remorse for his crime over many years. (PP. 8–9). With his strong Christian faith, he “understands that he needs the Lord’s forgiveness for his actions.” (P. 9). As one friend of Tom’s says, executing him “would deny all possibility of further repentance and change that would offer reconciliation with God.” (P. 9).

Tom has been a model inmate with a nearly spotless prison record for 30 years. (P. 5). The director of the prison system in Idaho asked him to serve as an ambassador with visitors because he “was the most stable and respectful person on death row.” (P. 3). Tom is an ailing 73-year-old man who poses no threat in prison. There is no need to execute him.

Tom was sentenced to death by a single judge. That judge now sees that no “purpose would be served by executing” Tom and that “an execution would “just be an act of vengeance.” (PP. 1–2).

Tom’s request for mercy is supported by many of the prison staff with whom he has lived for more than 40 years on death row. (PP. 2–5).

Tom’s execution would traumatize the guards who have grown close to him. (PP. 5–7). Guards already do a tough job to serve the public and the last thing they need is more trauma. Those around the country who have done it are haunted by the experience. One warden wakes up at night seeing the men he executed staring at him. (P. 6).

Tom uses his mistakes to mentor younger prisoners, who he tells not to “mess up like me.” (P. 8). Executing him would destroy that positive influence.

Tom has become an extraordinarily caring, compassionate, thoughtful man who has built strong ties with guards, friends, family members, and his wife of 20-plus years. (PP. 9–10). His execution would send out a ripple of pain and suffering for the many innocent people who care for him.

We, the undersigned, ask that you do everything within your power to stop this execution, including issuing a stay, and seeking a path to clemency in the case.

Thank you for time and attention to this urgent and serious matter.