Brad Sigmon, a 67-year-old man who has spent more than two decades on death row, is set to be executed by firing squad tonight (March 7), marking the first execution of its kind in South america Carolina’s history. With just hours left before his scheduled execution, Sigmon has made a last-minute plea for clemency, hoping for an intervention from Governor Henry McMaster.
The Crime and Conviction
Sigmon was sentenced to death in 2002 after being convicted of the brutal murders of his ex-girlfriend’s parents, David and Gladys Larke, in Greenville County, South Carolina. According to court records, he beat them to death with a baseball bat in their home before kidnapping his ex-girlfriend, Rebecca Barbre, at gunpoint. Barbre managed to escape from his vehicle before he could harm her further.
In addition to receiving two death sentences, Sigmon was also given a 30-year prison term for first-degree burglary. Since his conviction, he has remained on death row, filing numerous appeals that have all been denied.
Legal Battle and Last-Minute Plea
Sigmon’s attorney, Bo King, has argued that his client’s execution should not proceed, citing concerns over the handling of South Carolina’s lethal injection protocol. When lethal injection was previously an option, Sigmon sought information regarding the availability and condition of the drugs used. However, King claims that officials failed to disclose whether the drugs had expired, been diluted, or otherwise compromised, leaving Sigmon uncertain about his legal rights in choosing an execution method.
“He wanted to know—had the drugs expired, had they been diluted, had they spoiled? And none of those facts were disclosed despite his repeated requests,” King told WYFF4.
King has also raised concerns regarding Sigmon’s mental state at the time of the crime, arguing that he suffered from a psychotic episode and should not have been eligible for the death penalty.
“The death penalty is intended for the worst of the worst,” King stated. “In a case like Brad’s, the evidence that he was experiencing a psychotic break and was not competent at the time of trial argues against imposing this sentence.”
Despite these arguments, no last-minute court rulings have intervened, making it increasingly likely that the execution will proceed as scheduled.
The Execution Process
Sigmon will be the first person in South Carolina to be executed by firing squad, a method that has not been used in the United States in over 15 years. According to reports from The New York Post, the execution will take place in the state’s death chamber, where Sigmon will be strapped to a chair and have a hood placed over his head. A target will be positioned over his heart, and three executioners, stationed approximately 15 feet away, will fire their rifles through a small opening in the wall.
South Carolina is one of the few states that allow death row inmates to choose their method of execution. Currently, the options include the electric chair, lethal injection (which remains unavailable due to drug supply issues), and the firing squad. With lethal injection off the table, Sigmon’s execution by firing squad became the default method.
Final Hours and Last Meal
In his final hours, Sigmon reportedly chose a last meal of three buckets of KFC, which he shared with other inmates on death row, according to his attorney.
As the execution approaches, attention remains on whether Governor McMaster will intervene at the last minute. If no action is taken, Sigmon’s execution will proceed, marking a grim milestone in South Carolina’s legal history.
