In a chilling display of remorse, Wendell Grissom, 56, faced his execution on Thursday morning at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary, marking the state’s first lethal injection of 2025. But as the convicted murderer took his last breath, many are asking: is it possible for a man like Grissom to truly be redeemed by words alone after a brutal, senseless act? For the family of his victim, Amber Matthews, and for Dreu Kopf, who survived the bloody attack, Grissom’s apology might just be too little, far too late.
Dreu Kopf and alongside her two daughters Rylee and Gracie.
A Murderer’s Last Words: Is It Enough?
Grissom, strapped to a gurney with an IV line attached to his left arm, was given one last chance to address the victim’s family before the lethal drugs began to flow. With a steady voice, he said, “I apologize to all of you that I’ve hurt… I regret so much that I’ve put that hatred in your heart for me.” He then begged the family for forgiveness, adding, “I pray that you all can forgive me. Not for my sake. For your sake.” But did his apology carry any weight for those whose lives were forever shattered by his violent act?
While Grissom’s words might sound sincere, it’s impossible to ignore the cold reality that his remorse came far too late for the victim’s loved ones. Dreu Kopf, who was shot multiple times by Grissom but miraculously managed to escape, said, “It took him a total of 13 minutes to die, and it took him a total of two minutes to kill my best friend.” How can a simple apology undo the years of suffering, fear, and heartache caused by one man’s moment of violent rage?
The Crime That Shook Oklahoma: Cold-Blooded and Random
The crime that led to Grissom’s execution was as senseless as it was brutal. In 2005, Grissom and his accomplice, Jessie Floyd Johns, targeted Dreu Kopf’s home in Blaine County, Oklahoma, for a robbery. What they didn’t expect was the presence of 23-year-old Amber Matthews, who was visiting Kopf at the time. Grissom and Johns shot Matthews twice in the head, leaving her for dead as Kopf, also shot, managed to flee the home with her two young daughters.
Matthews later died after being airlifted to a hospital, while Kopf’s life was forever altered—not just by the physical scars, but by the unshakable psychological damage of surviving such an attack. Yet, Grissom’s last words suggest a man who has seemingly come to terms with his actions, though the agony Matthews’ family and Kopf’s still endure begs the question: Can an apology undo decades of trauma?
Wendell Grissom, 56
Grissom’s Brain Damage Claim: Is It Just an Excuse?
In a desperate bid for clemency, Grissom’s attorneys claimed that he suffered from undiagnosed brain damage, which was never presented to the jury at the time of his trial. This was his last attempt to argue that the crime wasn’t entirely his fault. But does this claim of brain damage offer any real justification for a brutal, premeditated murder?
The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board shot down Grissom’s request for clemency, citing the severity of the crime and Grissom’s lengthy criminal history. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond labeled Grissom’s actions as “textbook” death penalty material, saying they were the kinds of heinous crimes that keep people awake at night. Grissom’s last-ditch efforts to avoid execution simply fell flat in the face of overwhelming evidence and his continued refusal to take full responsibility.
The Execution and Its Aftermath: What’s the Real Cost of Justice?
When Grissom was executed, the process took 13 minutes, a drawn-out affair that felt like a stark contrast to the merciless speed with which Matthews lost her life. As the lethal drugs took hold, Grissom exhaled deeply several times before being declared unconscious. His final moments were as grim and drawn-out as his crime—a reminder of the irreversible damage done.
Witnessing the execution were the victims’ families, including Dreu Kopf, who still carries deep scars from that fateful day. She shared her ongoing trauma, explaining how she continues to live in constant fear, even years later. “I lived in a heightened state of fear at all times,” Kopf said, clearly scarred by her experience.
But even with Grissom’s death, the real question remains: Is this execution truly justice, or just a symbolic attempt to close a chapter that will never be fully healed?
Grissom’s execution might be over, but the wounds caused by his crime will never fully heal for the survivors. Can we ever truly find peace when the justice system delivers its most final and irreversible punishment? While some may argue that Grissom’s death was a necessary act of justice, others, like Kopf, will forever live with the question of whether the true cost of this kind of justice is far too high.
As Oklahoma’s death penalty debate continues, this execution leaves us with more questions than answers. Is justice truly served when we take a life in retribution, or are we simply repeating a cycle of violence that never brings true closure? And for the families affected, is an apology, no matter how heartfelt, ever enough?
