South Carolina just had its first execution in 13 years. Freddie Owens, 46, was given a lethal injection. He was convicted of killing shop worker Irene Graves during a robbery in Greenville in 1997.
Freddie Owens Biography
| Name | Freddie Owens |
| Age | 42 years |
| Died | September 20, 2024 |
| Country | South Carolina, U.S. |
Controversy Surrounding Owens’ Execution
He was executed even though his co-defendant signed a statement this week saying Owens wasn’t there during the robbery and murder. The South Carolina Supreme Court didn’t stop the execution, saying the new claims didn’t match the testimony from the trial.
Details of the Execution
Owens was put to death on Friday evening at the Broad River Correctional Institute in Columbia, South Carolina.
He was declared dead at 6:55 PM local time (10:55 PM GMT) after receiving a drug called pentobarbital.
He did not make any final statement.
Delayed Executions in South Carolina
Executions in South Carolina had been on hold because the state couldn’t get the drug needed for lethal injections.
Owens was sentenced to death in 1999 for the murder of Graves, as well as armed robbery and criminal conspiracy.
Owens’ Violent Past
The day after his conviction, Owens killed his cellmate in jail, according to CNN affiliate WHNS.
Owens was 19, and Steve Golden was 18, when they tried to rob a convenience store where Graves worked. They held her at gunpoint. Golden testified that Owens shot and killed Graves because she couldn’t open a safe under the counter. Graves was 41 and a single mother of three.
Legal Efforts to Stop the Execution
Owens‘ lawyers made several attempts to stop his execution, including two in September, but the court rejected them all. In the latest effort, they presented a statement from Golden, signed on Wednesday, saying Owens was innocent. However, the court denied the request, stating the new claim didn’t match Golden’s testimony from the 1999 trial or his statement to police after the arrest.
Witness Testimony
Prosecutors said other witnesses testified that Owens admitted to shooting Graves.
People against the death penalty, including Owens’s mother, asked the state for mercy. Governor Henry McMaster denied their request.
Just hours before the state executed Owens, his mother called it a “grave injustice” against her son.
Freddie Owens’ Final Moments
“Freddie has said he’s innocent from the start,” said his mother, Dora Mason, as reported by the Greenville News. In South Carolina, inmates can pick how they want to die: by lethal injection, electric chair, or firing squad. Freddie let his lawyer choose for him, and his lawyer picked lethal injection, according to the news. Journalists at the execution said that some of Graves’ family members were also there.
FAQS
What does Freddie Owens claim?
He claims he is innocent.
How can inmates in South Carolina choose their method of execution?
They can choose lethal injection, electric chair, or firing squad.
Who made the decision for Freddie Owens’ execution method?
His lawyer chose lethal injection for him.
Who attended the execution besides the journalists?
Some family members of Graves were present.
