Attorney: "Juror not romantic with Wilcher"

Bobby Glen Wilcher was laid to rest in Leake County Thursday after being put to death by lethal injection Wednesday night at Parchman.

At the execution, reporters learned about a relationship between Wilcher and a former juror from one of his trials, but the exact nature of their relationship is being disputed.

Lindy Lou Wells was on the jury that sentenced Wilcher to death in 1994, but as time passed the former juror from Yazoo City decided to befriend the convicted killer.

"She sought out our office ultimately to find out how to get in contact with Bobby," said Wilcher's attorney Cliff Johnson.

Johnson said it was a spiritual calling that led Wells to support Bobby. She spent time with him just hours before his execution. That's when corrections commissioner Chris Epps made this remark about just how close the two became.

"So close that he asked me, could they have a conjugal visit," said Epps.

Johnson says the statement devastated Wells, who is a married grandmother studying to become a minister. He said there was never a formal request for a conjugal visit, only a contact visit.

"A contact visit, being in the same room with someone, is very different than a conjugal visit, which clearly means you'll be having sexual relations with someone," Johnson said.

Johnson said Wells is deeply hurt by Epps' remarks, her reputation destroyed as she mourns the death of a close friend. But he said he doesn't believe that was the commissioner's intention and is awaiting a retraction.

"If Chris Epps is the man I think he is, I think he will recognize he made a mistake and apologize, and I think he should," Johnson said.

However, contacted by phone, Epps is standing by his remark that Wilcher did request a conjugal visit.