Little Axe murderer up for clemency
It’s been more than a decade since the bones of Shane Coffman were discovered in a dirt-filled freezer on property here in Little Axe. 
Court records show the eight year old boy, along with his siblings, suffered abuse and neglect at the hands of their mother, Bertha Jean, and a line of boyfriends; the last of which was Donald Gilson.
¶3 Examinations of the children conducted in the emergency room revealed Tranny and Crystal were healthy with a few small scars on each. However, Isaac and Tia were malnourished and emaciated. Tia’s feet were swollen and she had difficulty walking. She had gangrenous tissue on her right foot. On her right buttocks was a large open ulcer. Isaac was in the worst condition, emaciated and needing assistance to walk. He was malnourished and had several injuries, in various stages of healing, and scars throughout his body.¶4 In their initial interview with police, Appellant and Coffman both denied any knowledge as to the manner in which Shane died. They stated he had run away from home during the early part of November and they had found him dead in the weeds near Coffman’s trailer. They decided that putting him in the freezer would be the best thing to do. However, in subsequent interviews both Appellant and Coffman recanted this story and admitted to knowing more about the circumstances surrounding Shane’s death.
Bertha Jean Coffman was sentenced to life in prison for her role in the death and cover-up. Boyfriend Donald Lee Gilson received a death sentence, to be carried out on May 5, 2009. Gilson’s final appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court was denied just weeks ago.
However, the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board has now recommended clemency, giving Gilson one more chance for reprieve. Governor Henry is considering the recommendation. Henry has previously granted clemency on two occasions. Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson supports the sentence.
Update - Gov. Henry granted a nine day stay of execution to allow time to review the clemency request from the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board. Gilson’s scheduled execution is now set for May 14.
