Tremane Wood
In 2004, I made the mistake of participating with my older brother in a robbery that ended up costing Ronnie Wipf his life. During that robbery, my brother unexpectedly killed Ronnie and I live with the painful regret that I went along with the robbery and didn't say "no" to my brother that night. . Even though my brother confessed to killing Ronnie, we had separate trials and separate lawyers. My brother received a life sentence, and I was sentenced to death. Because I participated in the robbery, I was convicted of felony murder which meant that I could still be sentenced to death even though I didn't kill anyone.
I first learned about felony murder when I was charged and facing the death penalty. At the time, I thought I would be charged with a crime related to being an accomplice or an accessory, and I expected to own up for the role I played in the events of that tragic night. But I didn’t think it was possible in America for someone who never killed anyone to be convicted of murder or sentenced to death. Once you learn about felony murder, you realize how much you don’t know.
During my incarceration, I have worked hard to improve myself from within these walls and to use the painful mistakes that I've made as motivation to positively impact the lives of people around me. I've become a mentor to my community inside and outside of prison. I earned my G.E.D. during this time and was proud when prison officials selected me to participate in a pilot recreational program. Life is a continuous journey of personal development, learning, and adaptation!
Felony murder is a law that doesn't punish or hold people accountable for their own actions, and instead makes everyone in a group equally responsible for one person's actions. It can also lead to imbalance in punishment: Even though I didn't kill anyone, I received the death penalty. And even though my brother admitted killing Ronnie and confessed to that, he received a life sentence.
I would like to use my story to bring attention to these laws and the severe punishments they impose—including the death penalty. I believe that true justice embodies fairness, accountability, and equality, looking more like a system where individuals are held accountable for their actions while also being given the opportunity for redemption and rehabilitation.
