USA - Oklahoma. Richard Glossip pleads guilty to accessory to murder

November 12, 2026 - Oklahoma. Richard Glossip pleads guilty to accessory to murder in 1997 case

A high-profile murder case

Richard Glossip headed back to Oklahoma County District Court on Thursday (Nov. 12) for what was supposed to be his second hearing on pretrial motions.

However, the hearing took a turn when the state announced an agreement between the prosecution and the defense.

The prosecution agreed to drop the first-degree murder charge against Glossip. In exchange, Glossip pleaded guilty to one count of accessory to murder.

"Today, Richard Glossip finally took some measure of responsibility for the murder of Barry Van Treese. While allowing Glossip to plead guilty to the lesser-related charge of accessory to first-degree murder was a difficult decision for me, more importantly, the Van Treese family, we both recognize that this path ensures a conviction related to Mr. Van Treese's murder and gives us the best chance to secure additional prison time for Glossip," Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond said.

Richard Glossip has spent more than two decades on Oklahoma's death row for the murder of his former boss.

The case dates back to 1997 when Glossip and Justin Sneed were convicted of killing Glossip’s boss and owner of the Best Budget Inn, Barry Van Treese.

Although Sneed confessed to beating and killing Van Treese with a bat, Sneed testified that Glossip hired him to kill Van Treese.

In exchange for his testimony, Sneed was given a life sentence. Glossip was sentenced to death.

Over the years, Glossip has proclaimed his innocence and due to various circumstances, his execution date has been delayed over and over again.

In an unexpected twist, one of Glossip's biggest proponents for a new trial was Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond.

In 2023, Drummond said boxes of new evidence persuaded him that Glossip's trial was not fair.

Although he doesn't believe Glossip is innocent in the case, he believes he deserves a new trial.

In 2024, Drummond filed a brief in 2024 with the U.S. Supreme Court, asking the court to stop Glossip's execution.

According to Drummond, prosecutors in the case committed a Brady violation by not sharing potentially exculpatory evidence with Glossip's attorney. He says the prosecutors also knowingly allowed false testimony in the case, preventing Glossip from receiving due process.

In the end, the justices agreed with Drummond.

In 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court threw out Glossip's murder conviction and death sentence.

“Glossip is entitled to a new trial,” Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote for five justices.

In May, an Oklahoma County District Court judge granted Glossip bond, allowing him to walk free for the first time in decades.

As a result of the agreement, the case will not go to trial.

Glossip's sentencing is set for Dec. 17 and Dec. 18.

The Glossip case highlights many of the shortcomings of the U.S. judicial system, but also, from a broader perspective, its strengths. For this reason, HoC has always followed it closely. See the regular updates on the dates 17/07/2001, 04/06/2004, 13/10/2014, 27/01/2015, 28/01/2015, 15/04/2015, 29/04/2015, 29/06/2015, 03/09/2015, 16/09/2015, 28/09/2015, 30/09/2015, 01/10/2015, 02/10/2015, 08/10/2015, 26/04/2023, 05/07/2023, 22/01/2024, 23/04/2024, 07/05/2024, 25/02/2025, 09/06/2025, 04/09/2025, 01/01/2026, 14/05/2026