Nichols Denied Clemency, Execution On Schedule

The state of Tennessee getting ready to execute its third death row inmate this year. Governor Bill Lee on Tuesday denied a request of clemency by Harold “Wayne” Nichols. Nichols has been on death row for 35 years after being convicted in 1990 for the 1988 rape and murder of 21-year-old Karen Pulley at her home near Chattanooga. Pulley appeared to have been beaten with a 2 x 4 during the attack. She was found alive but died later at the hospital. Nichols was scheduled to be executed in 2020, but got a reprieve twice by Governor Bill Lee and then his execution was put on hold because of the investigation into lethal injection protocols.

With Governor Lee’s denial of clemency, Nichols’ execution is scheduled to take place Thursday morning, 12/11, at 11am.

Four executions are on schedule for 2026 in Tennessee, including Christa Pike. If carried out, Pike would be the first woman executed in Tennessee in over 200 years. Her execution date is September 30, 2026.