In a chilling turn of events, Wendell Arden Grissom, a death row inmate, used his final moments to beg for forgiveness from the woman whose life he shattered two decades ago.
On March 20, 2025, Grissom was executed for the 2005 home invasion that claimed the life of Amber Matthews, a young woman who died protecting her friend’s daughters.
Now 56 years old, Grissom faced his execution with a heartfelt apology, expressing deep regret for his actions and their aftermath.
The Violent Crime That Changed Lives Forever
It was November 3, 2005, when Grissom, armed and intoxicated, forced his way into Dreu Kopf’s home in Watonga, Oklahoma.
He shot and killed 23-year-old Amber Matthews, who had been trying to protect Kopf’s children.
At the time, Grissom didn’t know either woman.
The violent attack was completely random, but it would leave an indelible mark on Kopf and her family.
Grissom’s criminal history, which included previous felonies, had only added to the horror of the crime.
The trial that followed resulted in his conviction for first-degree murder, shooting with intent to kill, and other serious charges, ultimately leading to his sentence of death.
Grissom’s Last Words Before His Execution
As the date of his execution approached, Grissom made no attempt to delay the process through legal maneuvers, nor did he speak at his clemency hearing earlier that year.
But on the night of March 20, 2025, as he lay strapped to the gurney in the execution chamber, Grissom spoke his final words.
“I apologize to all of you that I’ve hurt,” Grissom began. “I regret so much that I’ve put that hatred in your heart for me.”
He admitted that he was under the influence of drugs and alcohol when he committed the crime, but stressed that it was ultimately his fault. “I’m not who I made myself look like that one day,” he said.
In his last words, he asked for forgiveness not for his own sake, but for the sake of the victims, hoping it would bring them peace.
Kopf’s Response: “It’s Too Late”
For Dreu Kopf, the apology came too late. After surviving multiple gunshot wounds during the 2005 attack, Kopf has spent years living with the trauma.
Speaking after Grissom’s death, she shared how the violence continued to haunt her.
“I had eight bullet holes in my body and there’s still bullets in me,” she said, describing how she still lives in constant fear.
Even the smallest interactions, like seeing someone with a backpack, would trigger panic, making it clear that the scars of that night will never fully heal.
Kopf’s daughter, Rylee, now 20, also expressed a sense of relief that Grissom’s execution had finally arrived.
Rylee recalled how her mother’s life was marred by anxiety and fear in the years following the crime.
“She didn’t want to be home alone,” Rylee explained.
“She would call my dad constantly to know when he’d be home.”
The Grissom and Johns Connection
Prosecutors revealed that Grissom had been traveling with a homeless hitchhiker named Jessie Johns just two days before the attack.
The pair had been drinking whiskey and discussing plans to commit crimes.
When they arrived in Watonga, they randomly selected Kopf’s house, unaware that Matthews was visiting at the time.
What followed was a deadly rampage, with Grissom laughing as he fired his weapon.
While Kopf managed to escape, Matthews did not survive the attack.
Grissom and Johns fled but were quickly apprehended when their stolen vehicle ran out of gas.
Johns, now 74, was convicted of first-degree murder and grand larceny, and is serving a life sentence without parole.
Grissom, however, would meet a different fate after being sentenced to death for his role in the crime.
Grissom’s Regret and His Final Days
Grissom had shown remorse for his actions in the years leading up to his execution.
He admitted his guilt and even wrote an apology to Matthews’ family after his first police interview.
However, it was his deep regret expressed in his final moments that captured the attention of many.
He had previously told reporters that he wasn’t afraid of dying, because he believed he had found forgiveness through his faith.
In January 2025, Grissom shared a message with his spiritual advisor, expressing his hope that he would be free from the pain of his past when he passed away.
“I’ll finally be free from this place,” he wrote in a text message.
A Quiet Execution and Peace at Last
On the day of his execution, Grissom requested a final meal of Canadian Bacon Supreme pizza, vanilla ice cream, and a pint of Coke.
The execution was carried out without incident, with the lethal drugs flowing smoothly into his system.
As the process unfolded, more than two dozen of Matthews’ family members and friends watched.
The execution was declared flawless by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, with Director Steven Harpe noting that Grissom had faced his death bravely.
“Grissom repeatedly expressed remorse and made peace with his execution,” Harpe remarked after the procedure, emphasizing the convict’s acceptance of his fate.
For the victims’ families, the execution marked the end of a long journey, but the healing process will be anything but simple.
The trauma of that night, along with the years of fear, can never be undone by an apology, no matter how heartfelt.
But for some, this moment may bring them a sense of closure, as Grissom’s final words aimed to offer them the one thing he could never fully take back—some semblance of peace.