News from the South - Louisiana News Feed

U.S. Attorney General’s Office agrees to transfer prisoner from Louisiana for Oklahoma execution

Published

7 months ago

February 13, 2025

Staff Editor

lailluminator.com – Emma Murphy – 2025-02-13 17:59:00

U.S. Attorney General agrees to transfer prisoner from Louisiana for Oklahoma execution

by Emma Murphy, Louisiana Illuminator
February 13, 2025

OKLAHOMA CITY – An inmate facing execution in Oklahoma will be transferred back to the state from a federal prison in Louisiana to carry out his sentence after U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi approved the move Thursday.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond requested the transfer last month so that George John Hanson would be eligible for the next available execution date which will likely be in June.

Hanson, 60, was sentenced to death for the 1999 kidnapping and murder of 77-year-old Mary Bowles.

He was convicted of kidnapping Bowles, a retired banker, from a Tulsa mall and later shooting her to death at a dirt pit near Owasso.

A bystander who witnessed the murder, Jerald Max Thurman, was killed by Hanson’s accomplice, Victor Cornell Miller. Hanson received a life sentence without parole for his role in Thurman’s death.

Hanson is serving a life sentence in a Louisiana federal prison for an unrelated bank robbery, according to a news release.

“I appreciate Attorney General Bondi’s swift action in this case and her commitment to ensuring that justice is served for the death of Mary Bowles,” Drummond said in a statement.

While Hanson was scheduled for execution in Oklahoma in 2022, the Federal Bureau of Prisons denied Oklahoma’s request to transfer.

Drummond’s request followed President Donald Trump’s executive order in January instructing the implementation of capital punishment sentences.

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This report was first published by Oklahoma Voice, part of the States Newsroom\ nonprofit news network. It’s supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oklahoma Voice maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Janelle Stecklein for questions: info@oklahomavoice.com.

Louisiana Illuminator is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Louisiana Illuminator maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Greg LaRose for questions: info@lailluminator.com.

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thecurrentla.com – Leslie Turk – 2025-09-09 07:00:00

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News from the South - Louisiana News Feed

Arrests, recoveries made during state-wide operations tackling sex offenders, missing children

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1 day ago

September 8, 2025

Staff Editor

wgno.com – Raeven Poole – 2025-09-08 13:25:00

SUMMARY: The U.S. Marshals Office, partnering with multiple local and federal agencies, conducted two operations from May to August targeting missing children and sexual offenders in New Orleans. The NO Saint and Sinners operation and Operation Fresh Start resulted in over 65 felony arrests, including 26 sex-based charges involving children, 15 sex offender registration violations, and seven child abuse warrants. Fifteen missing or endangered children were recovered. Notable arrests included suspects wanted for child pornography, trafficking, and violent crimes. The operations were supported by resources from the USMS Sex Offender Investigations Branch and involved collaboration with Crimestoppers and other law enforcement agencies to enforce justice and protect vulnerable victims.

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The post Arrests, recoveries made during state-wide operations tackling sex offenders, missing children appeared first on wgno.com

News from the South - Louisiana News Feed

Lafayette prosecutor Gary Haynes’ federal bribery trial starts

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Staff Editor

thecurrentla.com – Leslie Turk – 2025-09-08 09:45:00

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The post Lafayette prosecutor Gary Haynes’ federal bribery trial starts appeared first on thecurrentla.com