Texas House of Representatives

August 12, 2008

Ms. Rissie Owens

Chair
Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles

Members of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles

Executive Clemency Section
8610 Shoal Creek Boulevard
Austin, Texas 78757

Dear Chairwoman Owens and Board Members:

We are writing to urge the Board to recommend commuting Jeffrey Wood's death
sentence to a life sentence. Further, we hope that Governor Peny would act favorably on
such a recommendation. As we are certain you are aware, Mr. Wood is set to be
executed on August 21,2008.

Mr. Wood was convicted of capital murder under the Texas Law of Parties. It appears
evident that he neither killed, nor anticipated that Daniel Earl Reneau would kill, Kris
Keeran. He did not anticipate that a murder would occur and was not in the store when
the murder took place. The shooter, Danny Reneau, has already been executed for this
crime. When asked on death row to identify the shooter, Reneau had a oneword reply,
"Me."

This case is similar to the case of Kenneth Foster, whose death sentence under the Law of
Parties was commuted by Govemor Perry in 2007.

While Jeffrey Wood deserves to be imprisoned for his participation in the robbery, he
should not be executed. We find the facts of his case, as well as the application of the
Law of Parties, to be particularly bothersome.
Ms. Rissie Owens
Members of the Board of Pardons and Paroles
August 12,2008
Page Two

The death penalty is supposed to be reserved for the worst of the worst. It seems clear to
us that Jeffrey Wood is not a man for whom the death penalty should be applied. We
respectfully request that clemency be granted.

Thank you very much for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Rep. Elliott Naishtat Rep. Lon Burnam

District 49 District 90

Rep. Donna Howard

District 48 ~ eRuth i Jones ~ c ~ l e n d o n
District 120

Rep. Alma Allen

District 131 Rep. Eddie Rodriguez
District 51

Rep. Sylvester Tumer Rep. Jessica Farrar

District 139 District 148

Rep. Mark Strama

Rep. Harold Dutton District 50
District 142

cc: The Honorable Rick Perry

Governor of Texas
State Capitol 2S.1