Richard Glossip, a former Oklahoma death row inmate, is once again preparing to face a courtroom as his long-running murder case moves toward another trial—nearly three decades after he was first sentenced to death. During those years, he came so close to execution that he was served what he believed would be his final meal on three separate occasions.
Now 63, Glossip was convicted in connection with the 1997 murder of Oklahoma City motel owner Barry Van Treese. Prosecutors argued that the killing was part of a murder-for-hire scheme involving Glossip and motel maintenance worker Justin Sneed. Sneed admitted to carrying out the fatal attack and later testified against Glossip after reaching a deal that spared him from the death penalty.
The case has remained one of Oklahoma’s most controversial criminal proceedings, with decades of legal challenges, appeals, and renewed scrutiny. Since his conviction, Glossip has spent nearly 30 years behind bars while repeatedly fighting to overturn the verdict.
Over the years, his execution was scheduled nine different times before being postponed or halted through court intervention. The biggest turning point came in 2025, when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned his conviction, ruling that serious issues surrounding the original trial required a fresh legal review.
The decision followed arguments from both Glossip’s defense team and the state of Oklahoma that the original trial had been compromised by significant legal flaws. The ruling opened the door for a new trial and marked a major development in one of the country’s longest-running death penalty cases.
In May, an Oklahoma judge approved Glossip’s release after he posted a $500,000 bond. For the first time in decades, he is no longer behind bars as he waits for his third trial to begin.
Throughout the legal battle, Glossip has consistently maintained that he had no role in Van Treese’s murder. His supporters argue that the case against him relied heavily on unreliable testimony and that he never received a fair trial.
His fight has attracted attention well beyond Oklahoma, with celebrities, legal advocates, and criminal justice reform supporters calling for a closer examination of the case. Among the most outspoken supporters is Kim Kardashian, who has repeatedly urged officials to review the evidence.
In a 2023 post on X, Kardashian wrote that Glossip should not be executed for a crime she believes he did not commit, adding that he deserves a full pardon. She also encouraged the public to learn more about his case, saying it deserved far greater attention.
Glossip’s attorneys welcomed the court’s decision allowing his release, describing it as an important step toward ensuring a fair legal process after decades of uncertainty.
State prosecutors, however, remain confident in their case. Officials with the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office have said they intend to pursue another conviction during the upcoming trial.
“We disagree with the court’s ruling, but our focus remains on presenting the evidence before a new jury,” said Leslie Berger, press secretary for the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office, in a statement to USA TODAY. Berger added that Glossip’s guilt or innocence should ultimately be determined by Oklahoma jurors rather than by judicial rulings.
A date for Glossip’s third trial has not yet been announced. As the case moves forward, it is expected to once again draw national attention and reignite debate over the reliability of convictions, the use of capital punishment, and the importance of ensuring fair trials in the American justice system.
