Pennsylvania Governor Rendell Signs Execution Warrants for Gregory Powell and Michael...

Pennsylvania Governor Rendell Signs Execution Warrants for Gregory Powell and
Michael Pruitt

HARRISBURG, Pa., June 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Edward G. Rendell
has signed execution warrants for Gregory Powell, 49, who murdered his
6-year-old son in 1997 in Philadelphia; and Michael Pruitt, 45, who raped and
strangled to death a 69-year-old Sunday school teacher in 2002 in Reading.

Powell obtained sole custody of his son, Raymond Graves, while the child's
mother was in a drug and alcohol treatment program, and evidence at Powell's
trial indicated that his son had suffered months of physical abuse before
Powell killed him. In 2000, a jury convicted Powell of first-degree murder and
endangering the welfare of a child and sentenced him to death. The state
Supreme Court affirmed that judgment in September 2008, and the U.S. Supreme
Court declined to hear Powell's appeal in March 2009.

Pruitt confessed to police that while he was high on crack cocaine, he forced
his way into Greta Gougler's home looking for money to buy drugs and killed
her. DNA found at the scene also linked Pruitt to the attack. In 2005, a jury
found Pruitt guilty of first-degree murder, rape, involuntary deviate sexual
intercourse, robbery, and burglary and sentenced him to death. The state
Supreme Court affirmed that judgment in July 2008 and denied reargument in
September 2008. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Pruitt's appeal in
March 2009.

Powell's execution by lethal injection is set for Aug. 18, and Pruitt's is set
for Aug. 19. Both are held at the State Correctional Institution at Greene.

With the warrants signed today, Governor Rendell has now signed 92 death
warrants.

The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public
education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing
economic investment to support our communities and businesses.To find out more
about Governor Rendell's initiatives and to sign up for his newsletter, visit
www.governor.state.pa.us.

CONTACT:
Chuck Ardo
717-783-1116

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor

Chuck Ardo of PA Governor's Office, +1-717-783-1116