South Carolina Prison Director Confirms Return of Old Execution Methods
The case of Freddie Eugene Owens, the youngest black person to be executed in the United States, has resurfaced as South Carolina prepares for his impending execution next month. Owens, who has been on death row since 1997 for the murder of a store clerk and his cellmate, has been given the option to choose his method of execution: the electric chair, firing squad, or lethal injection.
After a decade of waiting on death row with no execution date in sight, Owens now faces the reality of his fate. Corrections Director Bryan Stirling confirmed that the outdated methods of execution, such as the electric chair and firing squad, are once again on the table following a Supreme Court decision in 2022.
Owens, who has until September 6 to make his decision, may also seek clemency from Governor Henry McMaster as a last resort to spare his life. The gruesome details of his crimes have shocked the nation, and his upcoming execution has reignited the debate on capital punishment in America.
As the deadline approaches, Owens must make a choice that will determine the final moments of his life. The small town horror story of the youngest black person executed in the U.S. serves as a chilling reminder of the consequences of heinous crimes and the weight of justice in the criminal justice system.