Freddie Owens, a South Carolina inmate convicted of a 1997 murder, was executed on Friday, marking the state’s first execution in over 13 years. The 46-year-old was declared dead at 6:55 p.m. at the Broad River Correctional Institution (BRCI) in Columbia, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s denial of his final appeal and stay of execution request.
Owens was sentenced to death for the 1997 killing of a convenience store clerk during a robbery in Greenville. While awaiting trial for the robbery and murder, Owens also confessed to killing a fellow inmate, a confession that was presented to two separate juries and a judge, all of whom sentenced him to death.
South Carolina had paused executions for 13 years due to difficulties in obtaining lethal injection drugs. The state recently switched to a new protocol, using only the sedative pentobarbital, similar to the method used by the federal government, after its previous supply of lethal injection drugs expired and pharmaceutical companies refused to sell more.
Owens’ last meal included two cheeseburgers, french fries, a ribeye steak, chicken wings, two strawberry sodas, and a piece of apple pie, according to the South Carolina Department of Corrections. He declined to make a final statement but said “bye” to his lawyer before losing consciousness.
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Governor Henry McMaster denied Owens’ clemency request, stating that he had “carefully reviewed and thoughtfully considered” the application. Owens allowed his attorney to decide the method of execution, saying that choosing himself would conflict with his religious beliefs, which condemned suicide.
Owens’ execution signals the end of South Carolina’s execution hiatus, with five more inmates set to face execution in the coming months, according to state officials. The state Supreme Court has approved holding executions every five weeks.
