South Carolina executes first inmate in 13 years Freddie Owens

GREENVILLE, S.C. (FOX Carolina) – South Carolina has executed Greenville County killer Freddie Owens, the first inmate to be put to death by the state in 13 years.

Owens, 46, died by lethal injection on Friday, September 20 – nearly three decades after the murder of convenience store clerk Irene Graves.

His final meal consisted of two cheeseburgers, french fries, ribeye steak, six wings, two strawberry sodas, and a slice of apple pie.

FOX Carolina anchor Justin Dougherty was a media witness to the execution. Dougherty said at 6:35 p.m., the warden gave permission to proceed with the execution and the curtains opened between the execution chamber and the witness room. This was delayed from the initially scheduled time of 6 p.m. while officials awaited word from the U.S. Supreme Court.

Minutes before the execution moved forward, the U.S. Supreme Court denied an emergency stay of execution appeal for Owens and Governor Henry McMaster declined to grant any form of clemency.

Owens was in a green jumpsuit and lying horizontally with a white blanket up to his chest. An IV was going into his arm from another room.

Owens did not give any final statement. Dougherty said in his final moments, Owens had a soft smile and did not appear to be in pain. He held eye contact with his defense attorney and mouthed words to her that were unclear.

In his last moment of consciousness, he said “bye” to his attorney.

Between 6:37 p.m. and 6:42 p.m., Owens appeared unconscious but slowly nodded his head and exhibited shallow breathing. Owens did not move at all between 6:43 p.m. and 6:53 p.m.

At 6:53 p.m., a doctor did a wrist check for Owens’ pulse. She then used her stethoscope and at 6:55 p.m., Owens was confirmed dead.

Afterward, an official with the South Carolina Department of Corrections said, “The case of South Carolina against Freddie Owens is complete.”

Owens was 19 years old on Halloween night in 1997 when he committed a string of robberies. Irene Graves, 41, was a clerk at one of the convenience stores he targeted. Owens reportedly became angry with how long Graves was taking to open the safe and shot her in the head.

Owens was convicted of Graves’ murder in 1999. In the 24-hour holding period between his guilty verdict and sentencing, he killed cellmate Christopher Bryan Lee at the Greenville County Detention Center. Lee was detained for a traffic charge.

Family members of Graves and Lee were present for the execution. They stared at Owens throughout the process.

In addition to anchor Justin Dougherty, the other media witnesses to the execution were Jeffrey Collins of the Associated Press and David Ferrara from the Post and Courier Greenville. A spiritual advisor and a member of the Greenville County solicitor’s office were also present.

A last-minute innocence claim from Owens’ codefendant during the robbery where Graves was killed did not stop officials from carrying out the execution.

Steven Golden signed an affidavit the day before the execution saying, “Freddie Owens is not the person who shot Irene Graves.”

Golden said he was high on cocaine and marijuana when he was arrested on Nov. 11 and questioned by police. At the time, he signed a statement saying Owens shot Graves in the head. He also testified against Owens during his murder trial.

Multiple courts said Golden’s affidavit contradicted numerous previous testimonies and Owens’ own admissions.

A member of Owens’ legal team, Gerald “Bo” King, Chief of the Capital Habeas Unit for the Fourth Circuit in the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the Western District of North Carolina released the following statement:

“Freddie Owens did not kill Ms. Graves. His death tonight is a tragedy. Mr. Owens’s childhood was marked by suffering on a scale that is hard to comprehend. He spent his adulthood in prison for a crime that he did not commit. The legal errors, hidden deals, and false evidence that made tonight possible should shame us all.”

FULL COVERAGE: Execution of South Carolina killer Freddie Owens

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