Clemency Blocked 2nd Time for Fla. ‘Mercy Killer,’ 76
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Doyle Conner today blocked clemency for Roswell Gilbert, saying he has not changed his mind about keeping the “mercy killer” behind bars for killing his ailing wife.
In a letter to Gov. Bob Graham, Conner said he took the weekend to consider the governor’s renewed appeal for clemency for Gilbert but saw no reason to allow Gilbert to pursue his appeals from home rather than jail.
Three other Florida Cabinet members said last week they will not reconsider Gilbert’s fate. Three of six Cabinet members must sign for the order to take effect.
Gilbert, 76, is serving a mandatory 25-year sentence for first-degree murder in the death of Emily Gilbert, his wife of 51 years. He testified at his May trial that he killed his wife after she repeatedly begged him to end her suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease and osteoporosis, a degenerative bone malady.
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