Bio

Windel Ray Workman was born on January 7, 1958. He grew up in Oklahoma, but not much is widely known about his childhood or family. Details about his early life are scarce.

As he grew older, he eventually became involved in a relationship with Rebecca Holman, with whom he lived. Together they had a daughter, and Rebecca also had a two-year-old daughter from a previous relationship named Amanda Holman. The family dynamics during Workman's time with Rebecca may have been challenging, but specific information about their family life is not readily available.

Before the tragic events in January 1987, Workman spent time caring for Amanda, especially when Rebecca was not around.

In the days leading up to Amanda's death on January 10, 1987, Workman was responsible for looking after her while her mother was away. Reporting from the time indicates that there were some issues regarding Amanda's care and possible injuries. However, further details about Workman's daily life, his background, or any possible early signs of difficulties are not extensively documented.

Ultimately, the events of January 1987 would change the course of Workman's life forever and lead to significant legal consequences.

Murder Story

On January 10, 1987, Windel Ray Workman brought his girlfriend's two-year-old daughter, Amanda Holman, to South Community Hospital in Oklahoma City. At the hospital, Amanda was pronounced dead upon arrival. Medical staff noted multiple bruises on her body, which raised suspicions of child abuse.

When questioned by the police, Workman claimed that Amanda had fallen out of bed the night before her death. He also acknowledged that he had spanked her hard enough to leave bruises. Workman stated that he played a game called "pitch," in which he would throw Amanda into the air and catch her. However, medical experts testified that Amanda's injuries could not have been caused merely by these actions. The injuries were consistent with severe physical abuse, specifically blunt force trauma to the head.

The medical examiner concluded that Amanda's death was a homicide caused by injuries that were consistent with being violently struck. The doctor indicated that such injuries would require a fall from a height of two or three stories to occur as Workman described. Additionally, several witnesses testified that Amanda had been in Workman’s care during the days leading up to her death. They noted that she had shown signs of distress around Workman and had been seen with bruises prior to the incident.

Amanda's mother, Rebecca Holman, had frequently sought medical attention for her daughter, including for minor injuries. In contrast, Workman's second wife testified that she had witnessed him spank their daughter harshly on multiple occasions, which caused their child to wet herself.

After the investigation, Workman was arrested on the same day Amanda died. He was charged with first-degree murder, specifically for child abuse murder, given the evidence presented at the trial. The jury found him guilty, and he was sentenced to death.

Workman spent several years on death row, maintaining his innocence throughout. He claimed that Amanda's death was caused by accidental falls and suggested that others, including the child's mother or grandmother, could have been responsible for her injuries. Despite his efforts to appeal, the courts upheld his conviction.

On August 26, 2004, Windel Ray Workman was executed by lethal injection in Oklahoma. For his last meal, he requested a barbecue meat dinner and an unsweetened iced tea. His final words expressed gratitude to his attorneys and encouraged them to continue their work. He was the sixth person executed in Oklahoma that year.