In a heartfelt plea to Missouri Governor Mike Parson, dozens of staff members from the Missouri Department of Corrections are urging him to grant clemency to 51-year-old inmate Brian Dorsey, who is scheduled to be executed on April 9. The group, consisting of sixty corrections officers and other staff members, penned a letter stating that Dorsey has been a "model inmate" who has demonstrated good conduct throughout his time in prison.

The letter, signed by the corrections staff, highlights Dorsey's exemplary behavior, stating that he has "stayed out of trouble, never gotten himself into any situations, and been respectful of us and of his fellow inmates." It further mentions that Dorsey is housed in an "honor dorm" at the Potosi Correctional Center, a unit reserved for inmates with a record of good behavior.

While expressing their belief in law and order, the group made an exception in Dorsey's case, asserting that capital punishment is not the appropriate penalty for him. They urged Governor Parson to commute Dorsey's sentence to life without parole, aligning with the sentiments of his cousin, Jenni Gerhauser, who is also against his execution.

Adding weight to the plea for clemency, former Potosi warden Troy Steele provided a glowing review of Dorsey's prison record, describing him as a "model inmate." Steele revealed that Dorsey's exemplary behavior and work ethic have even earned him the privilege of serving as a barber, cutting the hair of fellow prisoners, officers, and even the former warden himself.

The case against Dorsey dates back to 2006 when he was convicted of killing his cousin, Sarah Bonnie, and her husband, Ben Bonnie, in New Bloomfield, a central Missouri town. If the execution proceeds as scheduled, it will be the first in Missouri this year, following four executions carried out in 2023.

The defense, represented by attorney Megan Crane, has filed an extensive 80-page petition. Crane argues that Dorsey was denied effective counsel before he pleaded guilty, further contending that he was experiencing drug psychosis on the night of the crime, rendering him incapable of premeditated intent for capital murder.

As the scheduled execution date looms, the collective plea from Missouri Department of Corrections staff, along with the support of Dorsey's cousin and the arguments presented by his attorney, has intensified the debate surrounding his fate. Governor Parson now faces the weighty decision of whether to grant clemency or proceed with the execution in light of the diverse perspectives surrounding this case.