In a significant move aligning with his administration’s stance against capital punishment, President Joe Biden has commuted the death sentences of 37 federal inmates, including Brandon Basham and Chadrick Fulks, who were convicted in the 2002 murder of Marshall University student Samantha Burns.

Background of the Case

Samantha Burns, a 19-year-old student at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, disappeared on November 11, 2002. She was last seen at the Huntington Mall, and her burned-out vehicle was later discovered in a remote area of Wayne County. Despite extensive searches, her remains have never been found.

At the time of Burns’ disappearance, Basham and Fulks had recently escaped from a jail in Hopkins County, Kentucky. During their escape, they embarked on a crime spree that included the kidnapping and murder of Burns. The duo was also convicted of the kidnapping and murder of Alice Donovan in South Carolina shortly after Burns’ abduction.

Legal Proceedings and Sentencing

Both men pleaded guilty to the charges related to Burns’ and Donovan’s murders. They were sentenced to death for their crimes and have been on federal death row for over two decades.

Presidential Commutation

On December 23, 2024, President Biden announced the commutation of the death sentences for 37 federal inmates, including Basham and Fulks. This decision means that their sentences have been reduced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. The commutation comes just weeks before President-elect Donald Trump is set to take office, signaling a clear stance by the Biden administration against the death penalty.

Implications of the Decision

President Biden’s commutation affects nearly all federal death row inmates, leaving only three individuals still facing federal execution:

• Dylann Roof: Convicted for the 2015 mass shooting at the Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, which resulted in the deaths of nine Black church members.
• Dzhokhar Tsarnaev: One of the perpetrators of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, which killed three people and injured hundreds.
• Robert Bowers: Convicted for the 2018 Tree of Life Synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which left 11 congregants dead.

This action reflects President Biden’s long-standing opposition to capital punishment and aligns with his administration’s efforts to end the federal death penalty. The decision has been met with mixed reactions, with some praising the move as a step toward a more humane justice system, while others, including victims’ families, express concerns about justice and closure.

The commutation of Basham’s and Fulks’ death sentences marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing debate over the death penalty in the United States. As the nation grapples with questions of justice, retribution, and rehabilitation, President Biden’s decision underscores a shift toward reevaluating the role of capital punishment in the federal justice system.