Marcellus Williams was backed in his appeals for clemency by St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell.

In the aftermath of Williams’ execution there has been an outcry from the public due to the doubts over his conviction, especially since it was reported in August that a new development showed that the knife used in the murder was believed to have been contaminated by DNA from a prosecutor and investigator working on the case.

The Missouri Supreme Court and Gov. Mike Parson have declined to halt Tuesday’s execution of a death row inmate prosecutors say may be innocent, leaving his fate in the hands of the US Supreme Court with less than 24 hours to go before he is scheduled to die by lethal injection.