BOISE, Idaho — Idaho's longest-serving death row inmate, Thomas Creech, had a clemency hearing on Friday, Jan. 19. His legal team is asking that his sentence be reduced to life in prison instead of the death penalty. His legal team issued a news release stating that the judge who originally sentenced Creech also gave testimony on why his sentence should be changed.
"Correctional staff with combined experience of more than 100 years, from correctional officers to medical staff to a deputy warden, cite Mr. Creech's stellar behavior, respect, gratitude, positive attitude, remorse and low security risk as reasons to grant clemency. Many also express fears of being traumatized by his execution," the release stated.
As KTVB previously reported, Creech's attorneys filed a challenge to the sentence on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023.
During the hearing, former and current prison staff, friends and family gave testimony to the Commission of Pardons and Parole on why Creech should be spared the death penalty. Creech is 73 years old and has spent 40 years on death row. He has been convicted of five murders and, according to the Ada County Prosecutor's Office (ACPO), has admitted to killing almost 40 people.
One of the victims was 23-year-old David Dale Jensen, who Creech stabbed and murdered in 1981. Members of Jensen's family were also at the hearing.
The prosecutor's office has asked the commission that Creech's sentence be upheld.
“I want to thank Mr. Jensen’s family for having the courage to relive their pain and loss from decades ago by delivering extremely powerful and thoughtful victim impact statements to the Parole Commission,” said Ada County Prosecutor Jan Bennetts. “Mr. Creech’s actions have caused immeasurable pain to countless families, and on behalf of my office, we extend our condolences to Mr. Jensen’s family and to other victims’ families for their losses.”
The Commission of Pardons and Parole will give its recommendation to Governor Little, who will make the decision
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