A South Carolina man convicted of a brutal double murder was executed by firing squad on 7 March 2025, turning into the primary US prisoner to die by that technique in 15 years. Brad Sigmon, 67, was put to dying on the Broad River Correctional Institute for the 2001 murders of his ex-girlfriend’s mother and father, against the law that shocked the neighborhood and resulted in a decades-long authorized battle.
Sigmon’s Last Moments and Final Phrases
In line with Associated Press, Sigmon delivered a last assertion earlier than his execution, urging fellow Christians to assist finish the dying penalty.
Three jail staff used rifles to hold out the execution, with Sigmon pronounced useless at 6:08 p.m. The witnesses included three members of the victims’ household, Sigmon’s lawyer and religious adviser, a consultant from the prosecuting solicitor’s workplace, a sheriff’s investigator, and three members of the media.
As reported by Post and Courier, a bunch of protesters gathered outdoors the jail holding indicators that learn ‘All life is treasured’ and ‘Execute justice, not folks’.
The Murders That Led to His Execution
Sigmon was convicted of murdering David Larke, 62, and Gladys Larke, 59, at their house in Greenville County, South Carolina, in 2001. The killings stemmed from his obsession with their daughter, Rebecca Barbare, who had ended their relationship and moved again in together with her mother and father.
In line with court docket paperwork, Sigmon broke into their house and attacked them with a baseball bat, placing every sufferer at the very least 9 occasions. After killing them, he stole David Larke’s gun and waited for Barbare to return house. When she arrived, he kidnapped her at gunpoint, forcing her into her SUV. Nevertheless, Barbare managed to flee, although Sigmon shot her within the foot as she fled.
Sigmon was captured 10 days later at a Tennessee campground following a manhunt.
A Controversial Execution Technique
Sigmon’s execution was the primary by firing squad in South Carolina’s fashionable historical past. The state had struggled to acquire deadly injection medication, prompting legislators to cross a 2021 legislation authorising the firing squad instead technique of execution. South Carolina, Utah, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Idaho are the one states with firing squad executions on the books.
Witnesses described the execution as fast however disturbing. Sigmon wore a black jumpsuit, a white goal with a crimson bullseye positioned over his coronary heart. Three volunteer shooters fired concurrently from 15 toes away, placing him within the chest. He was pronounced useless three minutes later.
In line with Related Press, Sigmon’s arms tensed upon influence, and the goal was blasted off his chest. Witnesses reported seeing a crimson stain from the wound earlier than he stopped respiration. A health care provider examined his physique for 90 seconds earlier than confirming his dying.
Authorized Challenges and Final-Minute Appeals
Sigmon’s authorized staff repeatedly challenged his execution, arguing that he was not correctly knowledgeable about South Carolina’s deadly injection course of.
His attorneys filed a last-minute attraction with the US Supreme Court, claiming that the state’s secrecy surrounding deadly injection medication made it inconceivable for Sigmon to make an knowledgeable selection about his execution technique. The court docket denied the attraction, clearing the way in which for the execution.
His attorneys additionally cited issues about earlier executions in South Carolina, the place inmates who selected deadly injection reportedly remained alive for over 20 minutes.
In line with Put up and Courier, the state argued that Sigmon personally chosen the firing squad and that his attraction was irrelevant, as he was not being subjected to deadly injection.
Response from Victims’ Households and the Public
Rebecca Barbare, the survivor of Sigmon’s assault, declined to attend the execution, saying in an interview that her religion had allowed her to forgive him. Nevertheless, her son, Ricky Sims, was current and said that Sigmon ‘pays for what he is performed’.
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster denied Sigmon’s clemency request, permitting the execution to proceed. For the reason that reinstatement of the dying penalty in 1976, South Carolina has executed 46 inmates—39 by deadly injection and 7 by electrocution.
Sigmon’s execution has reignited debates in regards to the morality and effectiveness of the dying penalty, notably in states that also use firing squads. Supporters argue that it’s a swift and dependable technique, whereas opponents declare it’s archaic and unnecessarily violent.
Regardless of this, South Carolina now has 28 inmates on dying row, with two extra executions anticipated this yr. As authorized battles over execution strategies proceed, the state stays on the centre of the continued nationwide debate on capital punishment.
