Oklahoma Execution of Clarence Goode Halted Ahead of August 8, 2024

Clarence Goode, Jr., Oklahoma

Updated: Tuesday, August 6, 2024

Clarence Goode, Jr., was scheduled to be executed at 10 am local time on Thursday, August 8, 2024, inside the execution chamber at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester, Oklahoma. His execution is stayed pending a new execution date. Forty-eight-year-old Clarence is convicted of murdering Tara Burchett-Thompson, her 10-year-old daughter Kayla, and Mitch Thompson in Tara’s home in Owasso, Oklahoma on August 25, 2005. Clarence has spent the last 16 years on death row in Oklahoma.

Clarance alleges he was sexually abused as a child, which adversely affected his mental health. Additionally, he witnessed shootings, gang violence, the death of friends, and his own violent injuries, resulting in poor coping abilities. Before his arrest, Clarence worked at Brookhaven Hospital.

On August 25, 2005, Kayla, who normally lived with her grandparents decided to spend the night with her mother at her mother’s home. Kayla slept on a pallet on the floor of her mother’s bedroom. The next morning, Kayla’s grandmother received a message from the school that Kayla never arrived. She went to Tara’s home to check on her and discovered Kayla and Tara lying unresponsive in the bedroom. The grandmother immediately left the house and called the police.

Upon arriving, the police also found the body of Mitch in the bedroom. All three had been shot multiple times, with each also receiving a gunshot to the head. Multiple casings from several different bullets were found at the scene. Further investigation revealed that shortly after midnight on August 26, 2005, a neighbor noticed that the garage door to Tara’s home was open, however, the door leading into the house was closed. He and his wife also heard loud “barking” noises coming from Tara’s home.

In searching for a motive for the murders, police discovered that there was a feud between Mitch and Clarence Goode, who was dating Mitch’s sister Michelle. Mitch’s family friend, JR Hoffman had borrowed Michelle’s car, which he then crashed while driving under the influence. Goode later confronted JR and demanded that he pay for damages to Michelle’s car. JR refused and later that night JR and Mitch arrived at Michelle’s house armed with baseball bats.

Also at Michelle’s house was roommate Ronald Thompson. Mitch and JR began attacking Ronald. Goode then emerged from the bedroom with a gun and told everyone to leave. Outside, Goode gave his gun to another person and engaged in a physical fight with JR, which JR lost. After the fight, Mitch reported Michelle to the Oklahoma Department of Human Services for unreported income. He also called her place of work and alleged she was using drugs, resulting in her termination. Mitch also attempted to contact Goode’s place of employment, however, he was unsuccessful.

On August 25, 2005, Ronald was told to go home from his job at Walmart due to taking Xanax at work. Goode agreed to pick him up as he was already coming to Walmart. Goode arrived with Kenneth Johnson, who Ronald had never met. As they were leaving, Goode told Ronald they were going to “take care of some business.” Ronald was given gloves and a gun. Goode and Kenneth also had guns. According to testimony from Ronald, the trio went to Tara’s home. Ronald also admitted to his memory being “muddled” due to taking Xanax at work, and then ecstasy in the car.

The trio forced their way into the house. Ronald claims that Goode and Johnson entered the bedroom and began shooting. When he entered the bedroom, Goode held a gun to his head to demand he start shooting or he would be shot. Driving away after the murders, they tossed their gloves from the car and later disposed of the bullets in a field.

The following morning, Ronald told his sister what happened and she took him to the police station. While Ronald confessed, he changed his story several times regarding his involvement in the crime.

Goode also confessed to Michelle the morning of the murders, however, she did not believe him until police came to her home to tell her. The next day, Goode again told her more details of the murders. Michelle was interviewed by the police twice. She did not mention what Goode had told her until the second interview.

With the testimonies of Ronald and Michelle, police were able to locate the missing gloves and bullets. Other evidence, such as security footage from Walmart and forensic evidence from the crime scene further supported the statements.

Police arrested Clarence Goode, Ronald Thompson, and Kenneth Johnson for the murders of Tara, Kayla, and Mitch. Goode was convicted and sentenced to death for each murder charge on December 13, 2007. Thompson and Johnson were also convicted. They each received a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond has requested that several of the upcoming scheduled executions in the state be rescheduled to allow more time between them. Oklahoma’s Department of Corrections is currently understaffed and preparing for an execution is time intensive. Drummond’s request was granted by the courts. Several executions have been rescheduled, however many, including Clarence Goode have not yet received their new execution dates.

Pray for the families of Tara, Kayla, and Mitch. Pray for strength for the family of Clarence Goode. Please pray that if Clarence is innocent, lacks the competency to stand trial, or should not be executed for any other reason, that evidence will be provided before his execution. Pray that Clarence may come to find peace through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.