AMERICA UNDERCOVER: THE EXECUTION OF WANDA JEAN (TV)

Summary

One in this series of documentaries presented by HBO. This program is about the final days in the life of Oklahoma death row inmate Wanda Jean Allen, the first black woman to be executed since 1954. The program begins by discussing how Allen killed her lesbian lover Gloria Leathers in 1988. Allen talks about shooting Leathers as Oklahoma City news reports from 1988 are shown. Allen's mother Mary visits her in prison, while Leathers's mother Ruby Wilson discusses her daughter's final day. Steven Presson, Allen's co-counsel in getting her a stay of execution, talks about her retardation and 1981 manslaughter charge. Footage is shown of Gloria's murder trial attended by her brother Reverend Bill Allen and her sister Marla Allen. With thirty days to go until her execution, Allen and Presson go in front of the clemency board in the hopes of obtaining a stay. The stay is not granted, however, and as Allen's execution nears, Presson scrambles to save her.

Cataloging of this program was made possible by The Marc Haas and Helen Hotze Haas Foundations, 2003/2004.

Details

• NETWORK: HBO
• DATE: March 17, 2002 Sunday 10:00 PM
• RUNNING TIME: 1:27:58
• COLOR/B&W: Color
• CATALOG ID: T:75934
• GENRE: Public affairs/Documentaries
• SUBJECT HEADING: Capital punishment; Crime and criminals; Criminal justice, administration of; Trials (murder)
• SERIES RUN: HBO - TV series, 1983-2006
• COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

• Sheila Nevins … Executive Producer
• Nancy Abraham … Supervising Producer
• Lisa Heller … Supervising Producer
• Liz Garbus … Producer, Director
• Rory Kennedy … Producer
• Chandra Simon … Associate Producer
• Julie Gaither … Line Producer
• Wendy Blackstone … Music by
• Bill Allen
• Marla Allen
• Mary Allen
• Wanda Jean Allen
• Gloria Leathers
• Steven Presson
• Ruby Wilson