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.
