Brad Sigmon, a 67-year-old inmate, is hours away from becoming the first person in the United States to be executed by firing squad in 15 years.
Sigmon is set to die tonight at 6 p.m. EST at the Broad River Correctional Institute in Columbia, South Carolina, for the brutal baseball bat murders of his ex-girlfriend’s parents, David and Gladys Larke, in 2001.
Despite his impending execution, Sigmon is still hoping for a last-minute intervention to spare his life.
Legal Team’s Appeal and Focus on Mental Illness
Sigmon’s attorney, Bo King, is pushing for a stay of execution, arguing that his client was not properly informed about the lethal injection method before making his choice.
King pointed out that Sigmon had requested information about whether the drugs had expired or been diluted, but these concerns were never addressed.
King also emphasizes that Sigmon’s mental illness at the time of the murders should have been taken into account during his sentencing.
He argues that the death penalty is meant for the “worst of the worst” and that Sigmon’s psychotic break at the time of the crime should have precluded his execution.
Sigmon’s Final Days and Personal Reflection
In the final hours before his execution, Sigmon has been reflecting on his life and the relationships he’s built with other death row inmates.
According to King, Sigmon has served as an informal chaplain, offering spiritual support to others on death row.
Sigmon’s last meal request, which included three buckets of Kentucky Fried Chicken to share with his fellow inmates, reflects his desire to leave a lasting impact on those around him.
Sigmon, who was unexpectedly moved to a different area of the prison last year, is struggling with the reality that he will never see his friends again.
King describes how the isolation during his final months has weighed heavily on Sigmon’s mind, further underscoring the emotional turmoil he is facing.
South Carolina’s Controversial Execution Method and Governor’s Role
The South Carolina Supreme Court rejected Sigmon’s final appeal earlier today, leaving him with little hope of a last-minute reprieve.
Sigmon is now looking to Governor Henry McMaster for a possible intervention.
However, a stay of execution is unlikely, as no governor in South Carolina has granted clemency since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976.
If the execution proceeds, Sigmon will be strapped into a chair in the death chamber at Broad River prison, where he will be executed by firing squad.
The process involves a hood being placed over his head, a target being positioned over his heart, and three volunteers firing at him from a distance of 15 feet.
A Shift Toward Firing Squads Amid Execution Method Shortages
The return of firing squads as a method of execution comes in response to ongoing issues with lethal injection drugs, which have caused several controversial and painful executions in recent years.
Sigmon’s legal team notes that he chose the firing squad over lethal injection because of the possibility of a prolonged and agonizing death.
King pointed out that South Carolina’s secrecy surrounding the execution process led Sigmon to make the choice he felt would be the least painful.
The Violent Crime That Led to Sigmon’s Death Sentence
Sigmon was sentenced to death in 2001 after killing his ex-girlfriend’s parents, David and Gladys Larke, in a brutal attack with a baseball bat.
Sigmon bludgeoned the couple to death in their home in Greenville, South Carolina, before kidnapping his ex-girlfriend, Rebecca Barbare, at gunpoint.
Barbare managed to escape, but Sigmon pursued her, shooting at her before fleeing the scene.
After 11 days on the run, Sigmon was apprehended in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and returned to South Carolina to stand trial.
In a confession following his arrest, Sigmon revealed that he had targeted Barbare and her family because he couldn’t bear the thought of anyone else being with her.
The gruesome nature of the crime, combined with his mental health issues, has made Sigmon’s case a contentious one, with his legal team arguing that the death penalty should not apply.
South Carolina’s Firing Squad and Its Controversial History
Sigmon’s case highlights the growing trend of firing squads being considered as an alternative to lethal injections.
In 2022, South Carolina spent $54,000 to construct a firing squad apparatus, including bulletproof glass in the witness booth and a basin to catch blood.
While firing squads remain a rare method of execution in the U.S., their re-emergence points to the ongoing issues surrounding lethal injections and the ethics of capital punishment.
As Sigmon’s execution looms, the debate over the death penalty and the methods used to carry it out continues to spark controversy across the nation.