Final meal of death row inmate who requested rare gruesome execution method not used for 15 years
Brad Sigmon, a death row inmate in South Carolina, is scheduled to be executed by firing squad on March 7, marking the first use of this method in over 15 years. Sigmon was convicted of the 2001 double murder of his ex-girlfriend’s parents, William and Gladys Larke, whom he bludgeoned to death with a baseball bat.
The crime occurred after Sigmon’s three-year relationship with Rebecca Barbarbe ended, and he reportedly told a friend he intended to harm her parents as retribution for the breakup.
Ahead of his execution, Sigmon was offered a final meal, a tradition for death row inmates. His attorney, Bo King, revealed that Sigmon chose to order three large buckets of Kentucky Fried Chicken to share with other inmates on death row. King described Sigmon as someone who had served as an informal chaplain to fellow inmates, emphasizing his faith and ministry.
Sigmon’s attorney also argued that his client was not provided sufficient information about the lethal injection process, including whether the drugs had expired or been compromised.
Additionally, King claimed that Sigmon was suffering from a mental illness at the time of the crime and trial, which he believes should have spared him from the death penalty. He argued that the death penalty is intended for the “worst of the worst,” and Sigmon’s mental state should have been a mitigating factor.
Despite these appeals, the South Carolina Supreme Court rejected Sigmon’s final attempt to halt the execution. His last hope now rests with South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, who could potentially grant clemency. If no intervention occurs, Sigmon will be executed by firing squad at 6 p.m. EST (11 p.m. UK time) on March 7.
The use of the firing squad is rare in the United States, with the last such execution taking place in Utah in 2010. Sigmon’s case has drawn attention not only for the method of execution but also for the broader debate over the death penalty, mental illness, and the rights of inmates facing capital punishment.
