The execution began at 6:35 p.m. (ET), and a doctor checked Owens’ pulse at 6:53 p.m. and pronounced him dead at 6:55 p.m., according to state officials. Jumpsuit, he had an IV in his arm. He declined to make a final statement but spoke a few words to his attorney and said “goodbye” in his last moments of consciousness, Fox News reported. Family members of the victim, Irene Graves, were present during the surgery.
Owens was executed with a drug, pentobarbital, that South Carolina obtained under the SHIELD law passed in 2023, which protects the identities of those involved in the planning and execution of executions.
His last meal included cheeseburgers, rib-eye steaks, chicken wings, French fries, strawberry soda and apple pie.
Fox News quoted an official as saying: “The case against Freddie in South Carolina Owens Done.
this Supreme Court Rejecting Owens’ emergency call for moratorium, Gov. Henry McMaster Friday refused mercy. Earlier Thursday, the state Supreme Court rejected a new affidavit from Owens’ co-defendant, Steven Goldenwho claimed Owens was not present during the robbery and killing. The affidavit contradicts previous testimony and statements Golden gave to law enforcement.
Owens’ attorney sought a stay of execution citing a violation of due process, saying he had no information about the lethal injection drugs or the qualifications of the execution team.
Owens’ execution was South Carolina’s first lethal injection since it regained access to necessary drugs after nearly a decade of supply shortages.
Owens was 19 when he killed Graves during a robbery on Halloween night in 1997. Christopher Bryan Lee.
Owens admitted to murdering Graves to several people, including law enforcement officers and his girlfriend. He had the options of lethal injection, electric chair and firing squad, but his attorney, Emily Pavola, chose lethal injection on his behalf.
Attorney Gerald “Beau” King called Owens’ death “a tragedy” and insisted Owens did not kill Graves. “The legal errors, hidden dealings and false evidence that made tonight possible should shame us all,” King added, as quoted by CNN.
Owens’ execution was initially scheduled for June 2021, but was delayed due to issues with South Carolina’s execution protocols. This year, 14 people have been executed in the United States, all but one by lethal injection.
