Charles Crawford is scheduled for execution in Mississippi. The lethal injection is set for Wednesday evening. It will take place at the State Penitentiary in Parchman.
Crawford was convicted over thirty years ago. He was found guilty of the 1993 rape and murder of 20-year-old Kristy Ray. The execution continues a trend of capital punishment in the United States this year.
A Brutal Crime and a Ransom Note
According to court records, Crawford abducted Ray from her family home. Her mother discovered a handwritten ransom note. Ray’s car was also missing.
Authorities found a second note the same day. It was made from magazine cutouts. This evidence led police to Crawford.
He was arrested a day later. Crawford claimed he had been on a hunting trip. He later told authorities he blacked out and did not recall the killing.
Legal Appeals Exhausted After Decades
Crawford’s lawyers have fought his sentence for decades. Their final appeal is now with the U.S. Supreme Court. They argue his Sixth Amendment rights were violated at his 1994 trial.
The appeal states his trial lawyer admitted guilt against Crawford’s wishes. This strategy pursued an insanity defense. The Mississippi Supreme Court rejected this argument in September.
The state court ruled the appeal was filed too late. It also found the legal precedent did not apply retroactively. This cleared the path for the execution to proceed.
Charles Crawford’s execution marks a somber end to a decades-long legal battle. The state of Mississippi will carry out its second capital punishment this year. This case underscores the finality of the death penalty for crimes that shocked a community.
Thought you’d like to know
Who was Charles Crawford?
Charles Crawford was a 59-year-old Mississippi death row inmate. He was convicted for the 1993 kidnapping, rape, and murder of Kristy Ray. He had been incarcerated for over thirty years.
What was the crime?
The crime was the abduction of 20-year-old Kristy Ray from her parents’ home. A ransom note was left at the scene. Crawford was linked to the crime through a second note found in his former father-in-law’s attic.
What was Crawford’s legal defense?
His final appeal argued his original lawyer violated his rights. The defense admitted guilt without his consent. The U.S. Supreme Court was his last hope for a stay of execution.
How many executions have occurred this year?
This execution is the 38th in the United States this year. It follows executions in Florida and Missouri on the previous day. According to Associated Press data, capital punishment continues to be used.
Did Crawford express remorse?
Court records show he claimed to have blacked out during the crime. His lawyer described him as a man with deep religious faith. He did not provide a public statement before his execution.
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