MONTGOMERY, Ala. — James Osgood, an inmate on death row in Alabama, has expressed his desire for his execution to proceed this week, in line with his belief in the principle of “an eye for an eye.” Speaking over the phone from prison, Osgood shared, “I am guilty of murder, that’s why I withdrew my appeals. I wholeheartedly subscribe to the principle of retributive justice. I took a life, which means mine is forfeit. I don’t see any point in prolonging this process, wasting everyone’s time and resources.”
Osgood, aged 55, is slated for a lethal injection on Thursday at a prison in southern Alabama. He is remarkably among a minority of U.S. death row inmates who have voluntarily ceased their legal challenges. He also expressed that he wouldn’t want his case to be used by anti-death penalty activists for demonstrations.
Convicted for the murder of Tracy Lynn Brown in 2010 in Chilton County, Osgood was accused by prosecutors of slitting her throat following a sexual assault by him and his girlfriend. Osgood mentioned to AP his desire to apologize to Brown’s family and his own, while also acknowledging that an apology might not suffice.
“To the victim’s family, I apologize,” Osgood stated. “I am not asking for their forgiveness because I’m aware they can’t grant it.” He refrains from mentioning Brown’s name when discussing the case, feeling undeserving of doing so.
Expressing remorse, Osgood continued, “I regret taking her life, shortening it profoundly. I took one of God’s children away and inflicted agony not just on her family and mine.” Brown’s family supported his death sentence in court, although the AP was unable to obtain their comments.
Scheduled alongside Osgood for execution this week is Moises Sandoval Mendoza in Texas, marking a slight increase in U.S. execution rates. Osgood emphasized his opposition to his case being used for protests. “If opposition to executions is desired, that’s fine, but leave my name out of it,” he remarked.
Brown’s body was discovered on October 23, 2010, after concerns arose when she failed to report to work. Authorities reported her death involved stabbing and a slit throat. Convicted in 2014, Osgood was originally sentenced to death before an appellate court invalidated the verdict due to jury misinstruction. As a repeat sentencing began, he insisted on reimposing his death sentence. “I knew the likely outcome would still be death. There was no need to make the families relive the ordeal.”
Osgood struggled to rationalize his actions, mentioning extended alcohol consumption prior to the crime but denying it as a cause. Addressing young people, he advised avoiding actions they wouldn’t want reciprocated.
During more than a decade on death row, Osgood originally decided he would not extend his appeals after ten years. He had hoped to act as a bone marrow donor for his sister, though she pursued alternative treatments, and prison restrictions were a concern. Last summer, he abandoned his appeals and requested an execution date.
In a letter to his attorney, he expressed feeling as if he no longer existed, saying, “I’m exhausted. I want to fulfill my sentence.” Osgood observed other death row inmates potentially considering ending their appeals, suggesting that life imprisonment might be more intimidating than death. “Remaining here is frightening when considering what the world has become,” he concluded.