South Carolina is preparing to carry out its first execution in over a decade, marking a pivotal moment in the state’s justice system. On September 20, 2023, Freddie Eugene Owens is set to be executed by lethal injection at Broad River Correctional Institution, becoming the first person put to death in the state since 2011. This execution signals the reopening of South Carolina’s execution chamber after a 13-year pause, but Owens is just one of 32 inmates currently on death row, highlighting broader questions about the future of capital punishment in the state.
A 13-Year Pause: What Changed?
South Carolina’s death row has remained quiet for over a decade due to difficulties in obtaining drugs for lethal injections, forcing a halt in executions. The last inmate to be executed was in 2011, and since then, 32 men have been awaiting their fates. In 2021, the General Assembly responded by expanding execution methods to include the electric chair and a firing squad, although Owens’ execution will proceed via lethal injection. With the legal mechanisms in place, South Carolina is now resuming its capital punishment system, which many have questioned for its racial and legal disparities.
The Inmates on Death Row
Currently, 32 men sit on South Carolina’s death row. They come from 20 different counties across the state, with the largest numbers from Lexington and Spartanburg counties, each with four inmates. The majority of these men, ranging in age from 30 to 80, were convicted of murder along with aggravating circumstances, such as kidnapping, sexual assault, or arson.
The average age on death row is 54, and 53% of the inmates are white, while 47% are Black. All of them are housed at Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia, except for one inmate, Mitchell Carlton Sims, who is currently incarcerated in California after being convicted of murders in both South Carolina and California.
All of South Carolina’s Death Row Inmates
Here is the full list of the 32 individuals currently on South Carolina’s death row (as of 2024):
- Timothy Ray Jones, Jr.
- Freddie Eugene Owens
- James Robertson
- James William Wilson
- Fred Singleton
- Jerome Jenkins, Jr.
- Bayan Aleksey
- Steven Bixby
- Mar-Reece Hughes
- Tyree Alphonso Roberts
- Bobby Wayne Stone
- Mitchell Carlton Sims
- Richard Ray Moore
- Clinton Northcutt
- Brad Sigmon
- Marion Lindsey
- Mikal Mahdi
- Donald Jones
- Stephen Stanko
- Sammie Stokes
- Gary Terry
- Andres Torres
- Louis Winkler
- Anthony Woods
- Jerry Inman
- John Wood
- Bobby Lee Holmes
- Billy Wayne Cope
- Joseph Clarence Gardner
- Jeffrey Motts
- William Dickerson Bell
- Quincy Jovan Allen
These inmates have been convicted of various crimes, primarily involving murder and aggravated circumstances, across different counties in South Carolina. This list includes both individuals who have been on death row for decades and newer cases
Racial Disparities on Death Row
South Carolina’s death row population also reflects the racial disparities often associated with the death penalty in the United States. Despite making up less than 30% of the state’s population, Black men account for 47% of the inmates on death row. This raises ongoing concerns about the equitable application of capital punishment and whether systemic bias continues to play a role in sentencing.
The Road Ahead: The Future of Capital Punishment in South Carolina
As South Carolina resumes executions, questions linger about the fairness and effectiveness of the death penalty. Owens’ execution may be the first in 13 years, but it is unlikely to be the last. With 32 men awaiting their fates, the state’s ability to carry out executions efficiently, fairly, and transparently will be under intense scrutiny.
For many, the debate isn’t just about the individual guilt or innocence of inmates like Owens but about the moral and legal standing of the death penalty itself. Some of South Carolina’s death row inmates have been awaiting execution for decades, while others have relatively fresh convictions, illustrating how uneven the timeline for justice can be.
This resumption of capital punishment may reignite discussions about reforming the state’s justice system, especially in light of concerns about racial disparities, legal fairness, and the slow-moving appeals process.
Stay tuned to CCN (Crime and Cask News) for ongoing coverage of this historic moment in South Carolina’s criminal justice system. As the state prepares to end its 13-year hiatus from executions, the fates of Freddie Owens and the other 31 death row inmates may very well shape the future of capital punishment in the Palmetto State.