|
USA - Florida. Loran Cole, 57, White, was executed on August 29
August 29, 2024: August 29, 2024 - Florida. Loran Cole, 57, White, was executed on August 29 at Florida State Prison. He was pronounced dead at 18:15 local time (23:15 BST).
The state administered a lethal injection to Cole.
He was given the death penalty for killing18-year-old John Edwards in 1994, and was also serving two life sentences for rape.
Cole had nothing to say when offered the chance to give a final statement, the Associated Press reported.
He responded "No, sir" when asked for his last words.
The death row inmate's son and another individual visited Cole before the execution, according to the AP. He ate pizza and ice cream as his last meal.
Local media reported that Cole inhaled deeply and his body trembled until he finally stopped breathing and was declared dead.
Thirty years ago, Cole and another man named William Paul befriended Edwards and his sister Pam while they were on a camping trip in Florida's Ocala National Forest, according to court records.
The men lured the college students away from the campsite, jumped them and robbed them, the records say.
The brother, 18, was a student at Florida State University. He was beaten, had his throat slit and his body was abandoned in the forest.
His sister, 21, was a senior at Eckerd College. Cole brought her back to the campsite, tied her to a tree and raped her, according to the court documents. He left her there overnight and raped her again the next day.
She eventually escaped and sought help from someone driving nearby.
Paul and Cole were both convicted of first-degree murder and given life sentences.
Cole becomes the 1st inmate executed this year in Florida, No. 105 since the state resumed executions in 1979, 13th inmate executed this year in the U.S., and No. 1595 since the U.S. resumed executions in 1977
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9d1n6y7779o (Source: Bbc.com, 29/08/2024)
|
