John Fitzgerald Hanson Returns to Oklahoma, Faces Likely Execution After Contentious Legal Battles
John Fitzgerald Hanson, a federal inmate convicted of the brutal murder of retired banker Mary Agnes Bowles, has been transferred to Oklahoma to face a likely execution, marking a significant development in a case that has spanned decades and ignited fierce debates over capital punishment. The transfer comes after a series of legal maneuvers and shifting political stances, underscoring the complex interplay between state and federal jurisdictions in death penalty cases.
The decision to return Hanson to Oklahoma follows an executive order issued by former President Donald Trump, reinstating federal executions and paving the way for Attorney General Pam Bondi to direct the Federal Bureau of Prisons to transfer Hanson from a Louisiana prison. A federal judge in Louisiana declined to block the transfer, ultimately leading to Hanson’s arrival in Oklahoma.
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond had requested the transfer of Hanson on January 23, three days after Trump’s executive order. Drummond expressed his gratitude to Trump and Bondi for recognizing the importance of returning Hanson to Oklahoma so justice can be served for the heinous crime he committed.
Hanson, 60, was already serving a life sentence for bank robbery and other federal crimes at the U.S. Penitentiary in Pollock, Louisiana, when he was convicted of murdering 77-year-old Mary Agnes Bowles. The murder occurred after Hanson kidnapped Bowles from the parking lot of a Tulsa mall on August 31, 1999.
The murder of Bowles shocked the Tulsa community and ignited a fervent call for justice. Bowles, a retired banker, was a beloved figure in the community. Her abduction and murder left a deep scar on the hearts of her family and friends. Drummond highlighted the long and frustrating wait for justice for the family and friends of Mary Bowles. He emphasized the importance of bringing Hanson back to Oklahoma to ensure that he faces the consequences of his actions.
Hanson’s attorneys in the Federal Public Defender’s Office in Oklahoma had fought vigorously to prevent his transfer from federal custody, arguing that it was not in the public interest. However, their efforts were ultimately unsuccessful.
The case has been fraught with political undertones, reflecting the deep divisions surrounding the death penalty in the United States. The Biden administration, which opposes the death penalty, had previously blocked Hanson’s transfer, a stance that led the administration to commute the sentences of almost all federal death row inmates.
Joe Biden had pledged during his 2020 presidential campaign to work to pass legislation to eliminate the death penalty at the federal level and incentivize states to follow the federal government’s example. After Biden took office, his attorney general, Merrick Garland, imposed a moratorium on federal executions, further highlighting the administration’s opposition to capital punishment. However, Bondi lifted the moratorium on February 5, paving the way for Hanson’s transfer.
The details of Bowles’ murder are particularly gruesome. Hanson and an accomplice wanted Bowles’ car for a robbery spree and kidnapped her after she walked at the Promenade Mall in Tulsa for exercise. According to testimony at his trial, Hanson punched her in the face when she asked if he had anyone who loved him.
The lead prosecutor, former Tulsa County District Attorney Tim Harris, said in a February 20 court declaration that Hanson shot her in a ditch near Owasso after the accomplice gunned down a dirt pit owner, Jerald Thurman. Her body wasn’t found for days. The dirt pit owner had spotted them on his property. Hanson later confessed to a friend, saying, “Everything went bad.”
Hanson was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the dirt pit owner’s murder, underscoring the extent of his violent criminal behavior.
Drummond is expected to ask the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals to hand down an execution date later this year. Hanson had been set for execution in Oklahoma on December 15, 2022, but the Biden administration blocked his transfer, preventing the execution from taking place.
Hanson’s transfer comes as Oklahoma grapples with the complexities of its death penalty system. The state has faced scrutiny over its execution methods and has been involved in several high-profile cases that have raised questions about the fairness and accuracy of the system.
Hanson will likely be the second person executed in Oklahoma this year. Drummond asked in his letter to the Justice Department that Hanson be transferred ahead of the upcoming execution of Wendell Grissom by lethal injection so that he could be scheduled for the next execution date. The court is currently setting executions about 90 days apart.
Hanson’s transfer comes on the heels of the Supreme Court ordering a new trial for inmate Richard Glossip last week. Drummond had found that trial attorneys hid evidence that might have led to an acquittal but the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals said last year that Drummond’s request to set aside Glossip’s conviction was not sufficient reason to halt his execution. The state argued to the Supreme Court that they did not believe that Glossip is innocent but that he should be given a new trial.
The most recent execution in the state took place in December, when Kevin Ray Underwood was put to death by lethal injection for the murder of his neighbor, Jamie Rose Bolin. The state with the highest per capita execution rate carried out four executions in 2024 and 125 since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976.
The case of John Fitzgerald Hanson serves as a stark reminder of the profound moral and legal questions surrounding the death penalty. As Oklahoma prepares to potentially carry out his execution, the debate over capital punishment is sure to intensify, with advocates on both sides passionately arguing for their respective positions.
