BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Idaho Commission of Pardons and Parole conducted a commutation hearing for Thomas Creech, the longest-serving man on Idaho’s death row, on Friday. Creech, now 73, has been on death row since 1983 for the beating death of fellow inmate David Jensen in 1981. His defense team asked for life in prison without the possibility of parole, rather than death.
The commission granted Creech the commutation hearing in October, which postponed his execution initially scheduled for November. Under Idaho law, the commission will make a recommendation to the governor, but the governor does not have to follow the recommendation.
Idaho saw a similar situation unfold after the commission granted Gerald Pizzuto Jr., a man on death row, a commutation recommendation in 2021. Gov. Brad Little denied the request. Prior to Creech’s scheduled November execution date, the Idaho Department of Correction confirmed it had the necessary chemicals for an execution by lethal injection, something it had previously struggled to obtain.
At the hearing, emotional testimony was heard from Creech’s supporters and the family of his last victim. Ada County deputy prosecutor Jill Longhurst highlighted Creech’s history of violence, including five murder convictions in three states: Idaho, Oregon, and California. She described Creech as a “sociopath” with “an utter disregard for human life”, citing his lengthy criminal history and involvement in multiple killings.
Creech’s defense attorney, Jonah Horwitz, argued that Creech has changed and presented evidence of his positive influence in prison, support from family and friends, and a lack of disciplinary offenses during his time in prison. Former Ada County Prosecutor Jim Harris and Judge Robert Newhouse, involved in the initial sentencing for Jensen’s killing, now believe he should not be executed.
Creech himself expressed remorse and read a poem to the commission, apologizing for his past actions and accepting responsibility for his crimes. The commission continued to deliberate in executive session and will issue a written recommendation for the governor later.
In recent years, the Idaho Legislature made significant changes to capital punishment policy, including the inclusion of the firing squad as a legal form of execution and the granting of anonymity to suppliers of execution chemicals. A bill was also introduced to expand the death penalty to cases of lewd conduct with a child under 12, further igniting the debate around capital punishment in the state.