A Missouri inmate who is eight days away from being put to death is now pleading his prior military service and mental health struggles caused by the death of his police officer father should exempt him from execution.
David Hosier is set to die for the 2009 murders of Angela and Rodney Gilpin on June 11. Hosier, 64, had a romantic relationship with Angela before she went back to her husband, Rodney.
Prosecutors couldn't put him at the apartment crime scene in Jefferson City, Missouri, but claimed they had a mountain of evidence including a protective order that Angela had filed against him alleging he was stalking her.
In 2013, a judge handed Hosier the death penalty.
Now, in a last ditch effort, Hosier's defense attorneys are arguing his past – including the trauma endured as a result of his police officer father's in-the-line of duty death, as well as his mental health problems and careers in public service as a U.S. Navy sailor and firefighter – should allow for his life to be spared.
"My dad would call David his little pal, his sidekick, his little buddy. And they did a lot together," Hosier's sister, Barb Morrill, explained in a clemency video published Friday, describing the grief and anger her brother experienced at the age of 16 following their dad's murder in Indiana in 1971.
His attorneys said minimal services offered at the time to help Hosier and his family cope caused his mental health – and subsequently his life – to spiral out of control.
"He was kind of a lost soul after Glen (his father) was killed. David – he seemed to lose some of his direction," retired Indiana State Trooper Earl McCullough vouched. "He didn't have the father figure to speak to, lean on."
Hosier's other sister, Kay Shardein, said their dad's death "was like a crater, and David fell into that crater."
"Part of David's downfall is he didn't have social support, he didn't have strong coping skills. David doesn't have strong insight into his own mental health conditions," Forensic Psychologist Dr. Bob Stinson said, explaining David suffers from depression and bipolar disorder.
Hosier's cousin, Rex Gale pleaded directly to Gov. Mike Parson to grant Hosier clemency.
"I would ask him (the governor) to personally make sure that he's not executed," Gale said. "I beg you: Don't do this."
"I pray that this will reach the governor and that he will get my plea for David. If I could get on my knees and pray for David I would because his life is precious."
A spokesperson for Parson's office said the governor is currently reviewing the case.
"We will announce the Governor's decision once it is made, typically at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled execution date," Johnathan Shiflett told The Kansas City Star.
