The review process overseen by Hobbs was brought to a close toward the end of last year, with Mayes revealing her intention to move forward with the execution of Gunches. In a recent development, state officials have disclosed that there will be an expansion in the number of team members involved in the execution process, which will now include a phlebotomist. In past executions, the IV team had been occasionally staffed by corrections officers.
In parallel news, South Carolina is poised to carry out its fourth execution in just five months. The South Carolina Supreme Court has recently slated a date of March 7 for the execution of Brad Sigmon. Sigmon stands accused of the 2001 murder of a couple and the subsequent kidnapping of their daughter, as reported by the Greenville News – a component of the USA TODAY Network. Should Sigmon’s execution proceed as scheduled, he will join the ranks of Freddie “Khalil” Owens, Richard Moore, and Marion Bowman, who were executed by the state just last month.
Notably, lawyers representing Sigmon, aged 67, have submitted a motion seeking to halt his impending execution, citing findings from Moore’s autopsy. The motion points out that the previous three individuals remained alive for a significant period of time after being administered a dose of pentobarbital, with Moore even requiring a second injection. The motion raises serious concerns regarding the proper administration, reliability, and effectiveness of the drugs used in the recent executions conducted by the South Carolina Department of Corrections. In light of these concerns, USA TODAY has sought a response from the Department of Corrections.
This article, originally published on USA TODAY, reports on the issuance of execution dates in March by the states of Arizona, Louisiana, and South Carolina.
