News Release
05/16/2007
W.A. Drew Edmondson, Attorney General
Execution Date Set for Bland
The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals yesterday set June 26 as the execution date for Tillman County death row inmate Jimmy Dale Bland, Attorney General Drew Edmondson said.
Bland, 49, was convicted of the Nov. 14, 1996, murder of Doyle Windle Rains, 62.
Bland was arrested for driving under the influence on Nov. 16, 1996. At the time of the arrest, he was driving a vehicle owned by Rains. He later confessed to killing Rains at Rains’ residence and hiding his body in a nearby field.
The attorney general’s office requested the execution date April 23 after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected Bland’s final appeal.
Edmondson said his office attempts to notify victims’ family members regarding upcoming executions, but they have been unable to locate the family of Doyle Windle Rains. Under Oklahoma law, certain victim family members are permitted to witness executions, if they so desire. Family members are asked to contact Allyson Carson at (405) 522-4397.
Bland would be the second person executed in Oklahoma this year. There are currently no other executions scheduled.