Mississippi Death Row Inmate Who Begged SCOTUS for Mercy Slated To Die Tonight

The U.S. Supreme Court has denied the final appeal of Mississippi death row inmate Richard Jordan, clearing the way for his execution on Wednesday, June 25.

At 79 years old, Jordan is the longest-serving death row prisoner in the state, having spent nearly five decades awaiting his sentence.

Jordan was convicted in 1977 for the kidnapping and murder of Edwina Marter, the wife of a bank executive in Gulfport. The crime occurred in 1976, and Jordan has been appealing his sentence ever since.

His legal team has argued that the death penalty was not in place in Mississippi at the time of the murder, and that his sentence should reflect the laws that existed then.

Despite his appeals, the courts have consistently ruled against Jordan. Most recently, a federal judge denied his request to halt the execution.

The judge did, however, order that the execution must be stopped if Jordan shows signs of consciousness after the first dose of the lethal injection drugs.

Jordan’s attorneys also filed a separate appeal challenging Mississippi’s use of a three-drug lethal injection protocol, claiming it could cause unnecessary suffering.

The state is expected to respond to that appeal Monday, but so far, no court has found sufficient evidence to halt the process.

In addition to legal appeals, Jordan’s defense team reached out to Governor Tate Reeves, requesting a face-to-face meeting and asking for clemency.

They claim Jordan’s three tours in Vietnam caused post-traumatic stress disorder, which contributed to his crime. Reeves has not responded to the request.

Jordan has admitted to the crime but insists that mitigating factors, including mental trauma from war, deserve consideration. Still, the family of Edwina Marter has chosen not to attend the execution.

Her son Eric Marter told local media they prefer to remember her privately.

Across the country, other death row inmates have faced similar last-minute legal battles, often with the same result. In South Carolina, Stephen Stanko was executed after a federal judge rejected his argument against the state’s lethal injection method.

The judge ruled there was no evidence of “cruel and unusual punishment” and called the filing an attempt to “cry wolf.”

In Florida, Anthony Wainwright was executed for the 1994 rape and murder of a young mother. His victim’s family, who had waited decades for justice, watched the execution and said they felt closure.

Wainwright declined a last meal and claimed the justice system had failed him, but his victim’s sister reminded the public of the brutal nature of his crimes.

Meanwhile, Alabama inmate James Osgood accepted his fate, saying, “I took a life, so mine was forfeited.” He was executed for the rape and murder of Tracy Lynn Brown. In his final words, he expressed regret and apologized to the victim’s family.

These cases highlight ongoing debates about capital punishment. Supporters argue it brings long-overdue justice, especially when the crimes are brutal and the evidence is clear.

As for Jordan, unless the governor intervenes, his time is almost up.