COBB COUNTY, GA — The planned execution of a Georgia death row inmate convicted in the 2003 murders of two Cobb County real estate agents has been placed on hold, though the delay may only be temporary.
The Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles has paused the scheduled execution of Stacey Ian Humphreys, who was set to die this week by lethal injection. Tuesday morning’s clemency hearing and Wednesday’s scheduled execution are now on hold.
Humphreys was convicted and sentenced to death in 2007 for the murders of Cindi Williams and Lori Brown, who were attacked inside a Powder Springs real estate office in 2003. Investigators said Humphreys forced the women to remove their clothes, demanded their bank access codes, then shot them execution-style before stealing ATM cards and other personal items.
Attorneys for Humphreys say the pause comes as they raise concerns about conflicts of interest involving two members of the parole board. One board member previously worked as a victims’ advocate and had close contact with the families of Williams and Brown. The other served as sheriff of Glynn County, where Humphreys’ trial was moved because of pretrial publicity.
A Fulton County judge is now holding an emergency hearing on the matter. Humphreys’ legal team has requested a restraining order to keep the execution suspended while the issue is reviewed.
Attorney Jessica Cino said the legal challenge is focused on the clemency process, not the merits of clemency itself.
Humphreys’ attorneys plan to ask the parole board to commute his sentence to life in prison, but it is unclear when or if a clemency hearing will be rescheduled.
The death warrant remains valid until December 24, meaning the execution could still move forward depending on the outcome of the judge’s review.
For now, the execution remains on hold as the legal process continues.