MARYVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Supporters of Gary Wayne Sutton, the man convicted of murdering a brother and sister in Blount and Sevier counties in 1992, are speaking out about concerns with Tennessee’s execution protocol after the state’s failed execution of Tony Carruthers last week.
Wednesday morning, Sutton’s supporters gathered at the old courthouse steps outside of the Blount County Courthouse in Maryville to discuss concerns about the state’s execution protocol, Sutton’s legal case regarding his intellectual disability claim, and his maintained claim that he is innocent.
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Multiple individuals spoke, including a woman named Amy, who shared that she is Sutton’s niece, and Heather Zielinski, a private investigator who was hired to find proof of Sutton’s innocence.
“I can tell you standing here today that there is no doubt in my mind that Gary Sutton is innocent. And if any of you have a doubt in your mind whether he is innocent or not, then I challenge you to look at any aspect of this case,” Zielinski said. “This case was wrong every step of the way. Gary Wayne Sutton is innocent And Tennessee, the state of Tennessee, the governor is going to have an innocent man’s blood on their hands come December if they do not stop this execution.”…