Georgia execution of convicted female murderer delayed

ATLANTA — The planned execution of a woman convicted of having her husband killed has been postponed, the Georgia Department of Corrections said today. The state did not give a reason for the delay, but the decision comes ahead of a projected winter storm.

Kelly Renee Gissendaner was set to die at 7 p.m. tonight at Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson, Ga., for her role in the Feb. 7, 1997, death of her husband, Douglas Gissendaner. Her execution has been rescheduled for 7 p.m. on March 2, the state said.

The Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles previously voted to deny clemency for Gissendaner. If executed, Gissendaner would be the first woman executed in Georgia in 70 years.

Gissendaner was convicted on Nov. 18, 1999, and sentenced to death the following day. A co-defendant, Gregory Bruce Owen, pleaded guilty and is serving a life sentence.

The execution warrant signed by a Gwinnett County judge orders the execution be carried out between Feb. 25 and March 4.

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Todd DeFeo loves to travel anywhere, anytime, taking pictures and notes. An award-winning reporter, Todd revels in the experience and the fact that every place has a story to tell. He is the owner of The DeFeo Groupe and also edits Express Telegraph and Railfanning.org.