Ronald Lott

Nov 9, 2013

Email OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -- A death row inmate asked the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board to change his death sentence to life without parole Friday. A jury convicted Ronald Lott in the rape and murder of two elderly women who were killed in the 1980s. Despite pleas to save him from the death penalty, NewsChannel 4 has learned he will be put to death Dec. 10. Jim Fowler remembers the day his mother, 83-year-old Anna Fowler, was murdered 27 years ago. "The last image I have of mom is standing there at the back porch at the screen door, and I'm in the car on the drive way, and she's saying okay and I said, 'I'll see you later. ', and I backed out and that was about four in the afternoon, and she was killed that night," said Fowler. A man broke into her home, raped and killed her. Before finding her killer, police had the rape and murder of another elderly lady on their hands: 93-year-old Zelma Cutler. The homes where the murders happened are still on NW 31st St. Fowler lived just across the street from Cutler. Jurors sentenced Lott to death for both murders. After spending years on death row, Lott faced Fowler's family again Friday at the parole meeting. "He apologized for the pain and heartache that he's put the family's through," said Fowler. In an unusual twist, Fowler fought against the death penalty. "I don't want to kill him. I want to put him through as much hell as I had. I want him to experience every ugly day that prison has to offer," said Fowler. "No. I don't want him put to sleep. I want him to be an old man. The longer the better. " Other family members felt Lott should die, and ultimately, the board decided on the death penalty. One member, Currie Ballard, voted for life without parole. "I used to support the death penalty. I thought it was alright until I found out how many mistakes we have with it, and to kill an innocent human being is awful," said Fowler. Fowler's son, Mark, was convicted of murder and executed in 2001. However, it's his mother's murder case that changed his mind. A jury sentenced the wrong man to the death penalty. He was on death row for years before police linked Lott to the crimes. Holding a picture of his mother, Fowler thinks of what she would want. "I think Goldie would want to see him suffer," said Fowler. "I think if it got down to it, and you gave her a choice, she'd say, 'I want to make everyday of your life miserable. '," said Fowler.