15 January 2010 :

The death sentence of  Travis E. Glass has been commuted to life in prison without parole. The decision avoids a jury trial over punishment that was to have started Monday in Callaway County. Glass, white, was 21 when authorities said he confessed to strangling 13-year-old Steffini Wilkins on May 25, 2001. Ralls County Prosecuting Attorney Rodney Rodenbaugh said: "I consulted with the family and by withdrawing the attempt to seek the death penalty this will bring closure to the case," Rodenbaugh said. Despite what authorities said was a confession from Glass during an interview on the evening of May 25, the defendant pleaded not guilty at a court appearance on Aug. 7, 2001. on Nov. 21, 2002 (see) a jury returned a death sentence. On March 29, 2006 (see), Circuit Judge Gary Oxenhandler overturned the death sentence, ruling that the penalty phase at the original trial was not fair because Glass' lawyer had not done a good job in calling witnesses. On April 26, 2007, the issue went before the Missouri Supreme Court. On July 6, the court voted 4-3 to grant Glass a new penalty hearing. Today Callaway County Judge Kevin M. Crane finalized the judgment of life in prison without probation or parole. (See also: Nov. 21, 2002; Jan. 24, 2003 and March 29, 2006).