(CNN) -
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has granted clemency to Julius Jones, the prisoner sentenced to death who was to be executed on Thursday.
Stitt commuted Jones's sentence to life in prison without parole, according to a decree released Thursday on the state secretary of state's website.
Jones has been on death row for nearly 20 years in connection with the 1999 murder of Paul Howell. Jones says he is innocent, as are his family, lawyers and supporters.
Howell's family, however, remains convinced of Jones' guilt.
News in development
With information from Amir Vera
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