A group of death row exonerees and faith leaders in Tennessee is urging Gov. Bill Lee to halt the execution of Tony Carruthers.

Carruthers is one of 42 people on the state’s death row and was sentenced to die for allegedly murdering three people in 1994.

Stacy Rector, executive director of Tennesseans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, said there is untested DNA evidence which could point to another suspect. She noted Carruthers has tried to get it tested for many years but the courts have repeatedly declined to review it.

She argued the Tennessee death penalty needs to be fair and accurate so potentially innocent people are not executed.

"We're just simply saying to the governor, 'Ask the courts to do this. Ask the attorney general to allow this to move forward. Let the testing occur before any execution happens,'" Rector outlined.

Rector pointed out ACLU attorneys are handling Carruthers' litigation regarding the fingerprints and the DNA testing. She added fingerprint evidence was denied and they have appealed, and they're still waiting for the DNA testing. The lawsuit contests the recent denial of a motion to test fingerprint evidence which does not match Carruthers. He is scheduled for execution May 21.

Rector noted Carruthers lives with severe mental illness and was forced to represent himself at his capital trial. She warned his execution would be the first in nearly a century for someone compelled to act as their own attorney, noting his defense was so inadequate a co‑defendant won relief while Carruthers did not. She explained there is no physical evidence connecting Carruthers to this crime.

"There was a paid informant who testified that Mr Carruthers, I believe it was, that he confessed to him," Rector reported. "The fact that man was being paid was hidden from the jury for about 20 years before that was finally revealed. The co-defendant actually named another person as the actual killer."

Rector underscored Tennessee lawmakers updated the innocence law in 2025, expanding when DNA evidence can be considered by the courts. While the legislature has opened the door for testing, courts still have to agree to consider it. She added three people in Tennessee have been exonerated from death row after evidence of their innocence was considered.

Source: Public News Service