Convicted killer Jemaine Cannon, 51, was executed on Thursday morning at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester after receiving a lethal injection. His execution lasted only 12 minutes. Cannon’s execution was the second in Oklahoma this year and the ninth since the state resumed lethal injections in 2021.
Cannon was found guilty of murdering 20-year-old Sharonda Clark, a mother of two whom he had been living with at an apartment in Tulsa. The gruesome crime took place shortly after Cannon’s escape from a prison work center in southwest Oklahoma. Prior to this, Cannon had been serving a 15-year sentence for brutally attacking another woman, who suffered permanent injuries after being raped and beaten with a claw hammer, iron, and kitchen toaster.
According to state prosecutors, Cannon repeatedly stabbed Clark in the throat and chest, leaving her with multiple defensive wounds and severing her jugular and carotid artery. The details of the crime were horrifying and left a lasting impact on Clark’s family and the community at large.
In a last-minute appeal seeking a stay of execution, Cannon claimed that he was Native American and therefore not subject to Oklahoma jurisdiction. However, a federal appeals court denied his appeal, upholding the decision to proceed with the execution.
Before his execution, Cannon was given the opportunity to speak his last words. He stated, “Yes, I confess with my mouth and believe in my heart that God raised Jesus from the dead. Therefore I am saved. Thank you.” This expression of faith was his final statement before his life was taken.
The execution was witnessed by Clark’s eldest daughter, Yeh-Sehn White, and Clark’s sister, Shaya Duncan. They both described the execution as peaceful. While White expressed relief that Cannon died in a favorable way, she couldn’t help but feel the sorrow of her mother’s absence. She stated, “Unfortunately, my mom did not have that opportunity.”
During a clemency hearing before the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board, Cannon claimed that he had killed Clark in self-defense. He said, “I am deeply disheartened that the act of defending my life and the acts that she initiated against me ever happened.” However, the board did not find his claims compelling enough to grant him clemency.
Alongside the details of the execution, it is also common for news reports to mention the last meal of the executed individual. In Cannon’s case, his last meal included Vernors ginger ale, cherry pie, chicken breast, sliced brisket, seasoned fries, fried okra, and sweet and smoky beans. While seemingly insignificant in the grand scheme of things, this detail gives readers a glimpse into the final moments of the condemned individual’s life.
The case of Jemaine Cannon serves as a reminder of the tragic consequences of violent crime and the impact it has on individuals, families, and communities. The brutal nature of his crimes and the pain inflicted upon his victims will forever be etched in the memories of those affected.
While the debate surrounding capital punishment continues, it is essential to consider the emotional toll that these cases have on everyone involved. The execution of Jemaine Cannon brings temporary closure to a painful chapter for Sharonda Clark’s loved ones, but the scars from the tragedy will remain.
As society grapples with the complexities of crime and punishment, it is crucial to continue seeking justice while also striving to understand the underlying factors that contribute to these acts of violence. Only through comprehensive efforts in education, mental health, and rehabilitation can we hope to address the root causes of such heinous crimes and prevent them from occurring in the future.
