America’s complicated relationship with the death penalty

What this episode covers

Executions in the United States have been on the decline over the past few decades, yet 27 states still enforce the death penalty – and many are imposing it more often.  One very recent case in Alabama illustrates the complicated and emotional debates unfolding around the death penalty.  In 2025, Alabama executed five people, and the state was set for its first execution of 2026 this month. Charles “Sonny” Burton, 75, had been convicted of felony capital murder in 1992, even though he didn’t pull the trigger, and was scheduled to die March 12.  However, Burton’s fate quickly changed this week when Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey commuted Burton’s death sentence to life in prison. Alabama Reflector senior reporter Ralph Chapoco will have the latest.  This episode also examines a death penalty abolition movement in Indiana as well as developments in Arizona and Utah.  In Episode 19, host Chris Fitzsimon catches listeners up on breaking news in Alabama, where the governor this week commuted the death sentence of a prisoner to life in prison.  He’ll also talk with Kim Dillman, an opponent of the death penalty whose family history may make her position surprising. In 1994, her uncle Eric Wrinkles shot and killed her parents, Tony and Natalie, and her aunt Debbie, in a brutal mass murder in Evansville, Indiana.  Kim and her brother and cousins were in the house where the murder occurred. Wrinkles was convicted and sentenced to death for the murders. He was executed by lethal injection in 2009.  Since Wrinkles’ conviction and execution, Dillard has become a vocal opponent of the death penalty. She is involved with the Indiana Abolition Coalition, which advocates to end the practice.  Finally, Evening Wrap newsletter author Danielle Gaines shares the top stories she’s watching. Episode produced and edited by Mallory Cheng. Music for Stories From The States composed by David Singer. Click here for the full transcript. Relevant reading from States Newsroom outlets and partners:  Gov. Kay Ivey commutes death sentence of Charles ‘Sonny’ Burton (Alabama Reflector) New records show additional Indiana dollars paid for last round of execution drugs (Indiana Capital Chronicle) Utah bill to speed up timeline on death penalty cases moves forward (Utah News Dispatch) Arizona could ask voters to allow firing squad executions under GOP proposal (Arizona Mirror) Photo: The chair used for firing squad executions is shown in the execution chamber at the Utah State Correctional Facility. (Photo courtesy of the Utah State Department of Corrections)