What We Know
James Pavatt: What We Know
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Updated
James Pavatt executed Nov. 12, 2026
Oklahoma Department of Corrections reported James Pavatt was pronounced dead at 10:12 a.m. CT on Nov. 12, 2026. The Associated Press also reported the execution.
Earlier updates (1)
- Oklahoma executed James Pavatt The state executed James Pavatt by lethal injection at Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester on Nov. 12, 2026, at 10:12 a.m. CST, according to the Associated Press and The Frontier.
Oklahoma's Pardon and Parole Board voted 3-2 on Oct. 14, 2026 against clemency for James Pavatt, who was convicted and sentenced to death for the 2001 killing of Rob Andrew in Oklahoma City. His execution is set for Nov. 12. The state says he plotted the killing with Brenda Andrew; his lawyers say there is no proof he was at the scene, and he maintains his innocence.
What's confirmed
- Nov. 2001Rob Andrew, a 39-year-old Oklahoma City advertising executive and father of two, was shot at his home. Oklahoma Attorney General release, Oct. 14, 2026; News 9
- Prosecutors said Pavatt, who was then having an affair with Andrew's wife, Brenda Andrew, planned the killing with her to collect life insurance. KGOU; News 9; OKC Fox
- Pavatt and Brenda Andrew were convicted in separate trials, and both were sentenced to death. Oklahoma Attorney General; News 9
- Jan. 27, 2020the U.S. Supreme Court denied Pavatt's petition for certiorari, Pavatt v. Sharp, No. 19-697. Supreme Court docket
- Oct. 14, 2026the Pardon and Parole Board voted 3-2 to deny clemency. News 9; NewsOn6; KRMG
- At the hearing Pavatt told the board he is not guilty. News 9; Fox 23
- Execution set for Nov. 12, by lethal injection, at the state penitentiary in McAlester. KGOU/KOSU, Aug. 28, 2026; News 9
What the state says
Attorney General Gentner Drummond says Pavatt plotted Rob Andrew's murder and, working with Brenda Andrew, shot him. [Oklahoma Attorney General release]
What his lawyers say
Pavatt's lawyers say there is no proof he was at the scene, and he has maintained his innocence. They also point to his twenty-one-year Air Force career; about a hundred veterans signed a letter supporting him. [KRMG; OKC Fox]
What we don't know
- Why the board split 3-2: the reports we reviewed don't give its reasons.
- Whether any further appeal or stay request has been filed: reports so far don't say.
What happens next
The execution is set for Nov. 12 per the state. We'll update this page if a court acts or the date changes.
Chapters
- 0:00James Pavatt clemency vote: what we know
- 0:18Rob Andrew killing: the 2001 case
- 0:49James Pavatt: state vs. his lawyers
- 1:14Pavatt clemency vote: 3-2
- 1:41Pavatt appeals: what courts have done
- 2:05James Pavatt execution: where it stands
Sources
- Oklahoma Attorney General news release, Oct. 14, 2026 Primary recordoklahoma.gov/oag/news/newsroom/2026/october/drummond-commends-pardon-and-parole-board-for-denying-clemency-to-pavatt.html
- News 9, Oct. 14, 2026 Reportingnews9.com/crime/oklahoma-death-row-inmate-james-pavatt-denied-clemency-execution
- OKC Fox (KOKH), Oct. 13, 2026 Reportingokcfox.com/news/local/death-row-inmate-james-pavatt-seeks-clemency-before-oklahoma-execution
- KGOU, Aug. 28, 2026 Reportingkgou.org/criminal-justice/2026-08-28/execution-date-set-for-oklahoma-county-killer
- U.S. Supreme Court docket No. 19-697 Primary recordsupremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/19-697.html
The record · as of Nov. 12, 2026
How we know
Primary records are court and agency documents; reporting is news coverage we checked against them. How we report.
What happens next
Verified timeline
- 2001-11-20Rob Andrew was shot and killed at the Andrews' Oklahoma City home, per the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals' summary quoted in the Tenth Circuit opinion.10th Cir. opinion 14-6117; Oklahoma AG release; News 9
- 2002-02-28Pavatt and Brenda Andrew re-entered the U.S. at the Mexican border in late February 2002 after driving to Mexico following Rob Andrew's funeral date, and were arrested (OCCA para 11).https://okcca.net/cases/2007/OK-CR-19/
- 2004-01-012004 (exact dates not verified): Pavatt was convicted by an Oklahoma County jury of first-degree murder and conspiracy and sentenced to death on the murder count and ten years on conspiracy; Brenda Andrew was convicted and sentenced to death in a separate trial.10th Cir. opinion 14-6117; News 9; Oklahoma AG release
- 2007-05-08Court of Criminal Appeals opinion: the State presented a jail letter purportedly from Pavatt to one of the Andrew children claiming he enlisted another man to kill Rob Andrew while saying Brenda Andrew had nothing to do with it; defense challenged that Pavatt wrote it and maintained he was not involved. Pavatt did not testify. (2007 OK CR 19 paras 12, 48-ish)https://okcca.net/cases/2007/OK-CR-19/
- 2026-10-14Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted 3-2 against recommending clemency for Pavatt; execution is set for Nov. 12, 2026 by lethal injection at McAlester. Pavatt told the board he is not guilty of murder.Oklahoma AG release; News 9; OKC Fox (hearing Oct. 14); KGOU/KOSU
- 2026-10-14State position: AG Gentner Drummond says Pavatt plotted Rob Andrew's murder and, working with Brenda Andrew, shot him. Defense position: lawyers say no proof he was at the scene; about 100 veterans signed a support letter citing his Air Force service.Oklahoma AG release; OKC Fox; KRMG
- 2026-11-12Scheduled execution date for Pavatt (not yet carried out; subject to any court or executive action).Oklahoma AG release; News 9; OKC Fox
Also in our research file
- Pavatt v. Royal, No. 14-6117 (10th Cir. June 9, 2017) Primary recordU.S. Court of Appeals, 10th Circuit · June 9, 2017
- Pavatt v. State, 2007 OK CR 19 Primary recordOklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals
- Drummond: Deny clemency for Rob Andrew's killer (Sept 18 2026) Primary recordOklahoma Attorney General
- Pavatt v. Carpenter (10th Cir. 2019) Primary recordTenth Circuit
- Inmate moves closer to execution (Oct 14 2026) ReportingOklahoma Voice
- Air Force Veteran's Clemency Denied ReportingMilitary.com
- Clemency rejected ReportingKTUL
- Pavatt v. Carpenter (10th Cir. 2018) SecondaryLeagle
Updates and corrections
- UPDATE (Nov. 12, 2026): James Pavatt executed Nov. 12, 2026. Oklahoma Department of Corrections reported James Pavatt was pronounced dead at 10:12 a.m. CT on Nov. 12, 2026. The Associated Press also reported the execution. (Oklahoma Department of Corrections; Associated Press)
- UPDATE (Nov. 12, 2026): Oklahoma executed James Pavatt. The state executed James Pavatt by lethal injection at Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester on Nov. 12, 2026, at 10:12 a.m. CST, according to the Associated Press and The Frontier. (Associated Press; The Frontier)
Also: NewsOn6, KRMG, Fox 23, Death Penalty Information Center (Brenda Andrew's appeals, Aug. 2026).
Photo: Oklahoma Department of Corrections (2011), via KOKH Fox 25.
James Pavatt was convicted and sentenced to death. This write-up reports the record as it stands and updates when it changes.
Get the record as it develops: https://undercurrentdaily.substack.com
Spot an error? Email corrections@undercurrentdaily.com. See our corrections policy. Have information about this case? Contact the investigating agency first.
