Will Speer was scheduled for execution in Texas on October 26, 2023 for the 1997 murder of Gary Dickerson.

UPDATE at 4pm CDT on 10/26: The TX Court of Criminal Appeals stayed the execution pending further order of the court. Will Speer was returned to his death row cell. Keep #WillSpeer, his family, the families of his victims, and his legal team in your prayers.

Will Speer was already serving a life sentence in Texas when he was convicted of another murder that occurred in prison. Following the murder of Gary Dickerson, Will found himself on death row.

Will Speer has faced much trauma in his life; enduring both mental and physical abuse that destroyed his self-worth, and losing many people who meant the world to him, including his mother who was murdered and cousin who committed suicide.

From the Texas Defender Service's petition:

Will experienced deep trauma and abuse as a child, which was never presented to the jury that sentenced him to death. Through his participation in the Death Row Faith Based Program, however, Will has recommitted his life to Christ and expressed sincere remorse for his past.

His newfound relationship with God and the tools he learned in the program have enabled Will to heal from the trauma, neglect, and abuse he endured throughout his childhood and to be of service to prison staff and incarcerated people alike. Chosen as the first Inmate Coordinator of the program on death row, Will promotes a message of tolerance, healing, and personal growth and responsibility for people incarcerated within the Polunsky Unit. The prison’s selection of Will for this position indicates a deep level of trust in him.

Texas' aggressive execution schedule marks it as an outlier in its use of the death penalty while the majority of other states are on a downward trend of executions. In the last few years, Texas has been one of only a handful of states that have carried out death sentences - and it continues to do so targeting the poor, the mentally ill and people of color.

Please sign the petition asking Governor Abbott and the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to do everything within their power to stop this execution, including issuing a stay, and seeking a path to clemency in the case.

Additionally, you may reach out now to the Board at bpp_clemency@tdcj.texas.gov and the Governor at https://gov.texas.gov/contact/ and (512) 463-1782. You can simply leave a voice message, or choose to speak to a representative if you prefer.

Please note: In Texas, the Governor does have limited power when it comes to the death penalty. But the story we are told that "it's out of the governor's hands," is only true if we allow it to be. Yes, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles must recommend clemency in that state in order for the Governor to grant clemency (mercy) by commuting a death sentence. But the fact is that the governor appoints the members of the Board of Pardons and Paroles. He can choose to appoint members who will take valid claims and concerns more seriously, instead of acting like rubber-stamping gate-keepers. He can still use his position of power and influence to enact justice in the State of Texas.