Transgender woman on Missouri's death row asks governor for mercy with execution just days away

The first openly transgender woman set to be executed in the U.S. is asking Missouri's governor for mercy, citing mental health issues. Lawyers for Amber McLaughlin, now 49, on Monday asked Republican Gov. Mike Parson to spare her.

McLaughlin was convicted of killing 45-year-old Beverly Guenther on Nov. 20, 2003. Guenther was raped and stabbed to death in St. Louis County.

McLaughlin is scheduled to be put to death on Jan. 3, CBS affiliate KMOV reported. A petition to stop the execution has garnered over 1,500 signatures.