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A judge has granted a $500,000 bail for a high-profile Oklahoma inmate who had spent almost 30 years on death row. Richard Glossip spent nearly three decades behind bars after he was convicted of orchestrating the 1997 murder of Oklahoma City motel owner Barry Van Treese. Once the bond is paid, he will be out of jail or prison for the first time since his conviction. Richard Glossip granted bond On Thursday, an Oklahoma County judge set Richard Glossip’s bail at $500,000 and ruled that he is subject to release only to an approved pre-trial release program determined by the court. Glossip has also been ordered to wear a GPS monitoring device. According to the ruling, Glossip shall only reside with his wife at their home and must report their address to a court-approved pretrial monitoring program. He also must follow residential curfew hours from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., and Glossip cannot travel outside the state of Oklahoma. Watch the video below to learn more about the bond being granted to Richard GlossipThe judge also ordered that Glossip cannot establish, maintain, or have any kind of communication with any potential witnesses in his case or anyone in the custody of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, the Oklahoma County Detention Center, or any other jail or detention facility. Glossip cannot consume any alcohol, illegal drugs, or marijuana, and he’ll be subject to testing upon request. Finally, Glossip is not allowed to commit any crime or engage in any illegal activities. A violation of any condition of the court could result in immediate revocation of bail. Background on Richard Glossip’s caseGlossip spent nearly three decades behind bars after he was convicted of orchestrating the 1997 murder of Oklahoma City motel owner Barry Van Treese. The former death row inmate survived nine execution dates before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned his conviction and death sentence in 2025. Since being removed from death row, Glossip has been held at the Oklahoma County Detention Center.The case against Glossip largely relied on testimony from Justin Sneed, who admitted to carrying out the killing. Video below: Richard Glossip seeks bond release ahead of new trial In April, a judge rejected an argument from Glossip’s attorneys that he and Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond reached a plea agreement in 2023. The alleged agreement claimed that Drummond made a clear, written promise that if Glossip pleaded guilty to a lesser charge and gave up his right to sue the state, he would be released based on time served. When the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Glossip’s conviction and death sentence, the court stated that he was entitled to a new trial. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. on June 23. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond Statement”While we disagree with the court’s decision, we remain focused on retrying this case and securing a third conviction of Richard Glossip for the murder of Barry VanTreese.Ultimately, the question of the defendant’s guilt or innocence will once again be decided by a jury of Oklahoma citizens — not a judge.” Statement from Richard Glossip’s attorney, Don Knight”We are extremely grateful that Judge Natalie Mai has granted Richard Glossip a bond. In doing so, she rejected the State’s claim that there is a strong case for guilt. For the first time in 29 years of being incarcerated for a crime he did not commit, during which he faced 9 execution dates and ate 3 last meals, Mr. Glossip now has the chance to taste freedom while his defense team continues to pursue justice on his behalf against a system that the United States Supreme Court has found to be guilty of serious misconduct by state prosecutors. Mr. Glossip is deeply grateful to the many thousands of people who have expressed support for him over the years and now looks forward to the day when he is exonerated and truly free from this decades-long nightmare.”
A judge has granted a $500,000 bail for a high-profile Oklahoma inmate who had spent almost 30 years on death row.
Richard Glossip spent nearly three decades behind bars after he was convicted of orchestrating the 1997 murder of Oklahoma City motel owner Barry Van Treese. Once the bond is paid, he will be out of jail or prison for the first time since his conviction.
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Richard Glossip granted bond
On Thursday, an Oklahoma County judge set Richard Glossip’s bail at $500,000 and ruled that he is subject to release only to an approved pre-trial release program determined by the court. Glossip has also been ordered to wear a GPS monitoring device.
According to the ruling, Glossip shall only reside with his wife at their home and must report their address to a court-approved pretrial monitoring program. He also must follow residential curfew hours from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., and Glossip cannot travel outside the state of Oklahoma.
Watch the video below to learn more about the bond being granted to Richard Glossip
The judge also ordered that Glossip cannot establish, maintain, or have any kind of communication with any potential witnesses in his case or anyone in the custody of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, the Oklahoma County Detention Center, or any other jail or detention facility.
Glossip cannot consume any alcohol, illegal drugs, or marijuana, and he’ll be subject to testing upon request. Finally, Glossip is not allowed to commit any crime or engage in any illegal activities.
A violation of any condition of the court could result in immediate revocation of bail.
Background on Richard Glossip’s case
Glossip spent nearly three decades behind bars after he was convicted of orchestrating the 1997 murder of Oklahoma City motel owner Barry Van Treese. The former death row inmate survived nine execution dates before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned his conviction and death sentence in 2025.
Since being removed from death row, Glossip has been held at the Oklahoma County Detention Center.
The case against Glossip largely relied on testimony from Justin Sneed, who admitted to carrying out the killing.
Video below: Richard Glossip seeks bond release ahead of new trial
In April, a judge rejected an argument from Glossip’s attorneys that he and Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond reached a plea agreement in 2023. The alleged agreement claimed that Drummond made a clear, written promise that if Glossip pleaded guilty to a lesser charge and gave up his right to sue the state, he would be released based on time served.
When the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Glossip’s conviction and death sentence, the court stated that he was entitled to a new trial. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. on June 23.
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond Statement
“While we disagree with the court’s decision, we remain focused on retrying this case and securing a third conviction of Richard Glossip for the murder of Barry VanTreese.
Ultimately, the question of the defendant’s guilt or innocence will once again be decided by a jury of Oklahoma citizens — not a judge.”
Statement from Richard Glossip’s attorney, Don Knight
“We are extremely grateful that Judge Natalie Mai has granted Richard Glossip a bond. In doing so, she rejected the State’s claim that there is a strong case for guilt. For the first time in 29 years of being incarcerated for a crime he did not commit, during which he faced 9 execution dates and ate 3 last meals, Mr. Glossip now has the chance to taste freedom while his defense team continues to pursue justice on his behalf against a system that the United States Supreme Court has found to be guilty of serious misconduct by state prosecutors. Mr. Glossip is deeply grateful to the many thousands of people who have expressed support for him over the years and now looks forward to the day when he is exonerated and truly free from this decades-long nightmare.”
