A Son on Death Row

Reginald Clemons, was scheduled to be put to death on June 17 for the 1991 murders of two young women, Julie and Robin Kerry who were pushed or ordered to jump to their deaths from the old Chain of Rocks Bridge spanning Missouri and Illionois in St. Louis. He received a federal stay of execution just days before he was to die by lethal injection in a Missouri prison. Supporters have insisted that while Clemons was present on the bridge, he did not commit murder. They contend his confessions were the result of a brutal police beating and the real killer is actually the Kerry sisters' cousin Thomas Cummings who was the initial suspect. Clemons' mother Vera Thomas spends time in The Ladies Room talking about her son in this exclusive interview.

Episode Segments:

In the News Patricia comments on some recent happenings, including the passing of Farrah Fawcett, and the sudden death of Michael Jackson. Patricia also gives her thoughts on the tributes to Michael at the BET awards last night.
Embed Code
Justice for Reggie Pat speaks one on one with Vera Thomas as Thomas' son Reggie Clemons remains on Death Row. They talk about the questions surrounding the incident that took place in 1991 involving Clemons and the trial that followed the tragedy.
Embed Code

Links to Related Websites:

The Justice For Reggie Clemons Website The work to save Reggie's life is still in high gear and it must continue. Learn more at the official website.

Guest(s) Appearing on this Episode

Vera Thomas My name is Vera Thomas and I am Reginald Clemons’s mother. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that my child would be sentenced to death. Before April 1991 I hadn’t given much thought to the criminal justice system. I just assumed people got fair trials and if someone was convicted, they must be guilty. I’d hear hideous descriptions about what someone did and think they were a horrible person. I didn’t find out until Reggie’s case that what you see in the news or even in court is not always the whole story. I quickly learned that it doesn’t matter how good a case you have if you don’t have a good attorney. The system is not always about finding out the truth. I know Reggie didn’t get a fair trial and I have been praying for a new one since his conviction. Reggie is a likable person. He is the kind of person who cared for everybody. He is a hard worker and contributed to the strength of our family. You don’t raise your children to grow up to be executed. This is not the life that I planned for, or expected Reggie to have to endure. I always believed Reggie would be a great person and do great things, and he could still have that opportunity. But with the death penalty you can run out of time. I believe a lot of innocent people have been executed. They can no longer fight back because execution is an irrevocable act. I pray for Reggie everyday and I fight for him everyday by telling my story to anyone who will listen. A grave injustice will be carried out if Reggie is executed and the pain that I feel will not only be because I have lost my son and have to see my granddaughter lose her father; it will also be my loss of faith in what I used to believe was a fair and just criminal justice system. Click Here to learn more about Reggie's plight