Old Crimes Catch Up: 79-Year-Old Mississippi Inmate Given Lethal Injection After Half-Century on Death Row
American convict put to death following nearly half a century on capital punishment custody.
Let's dive into a chilling tale that brings us back to the 70s. Richard Jordan, a 79-year-old man, has recently faced the consequences of a crime he committed nearly five decades ago. The execution took place at a Mississippi prison, marking the end of a lengthy chapter in Jordan's life.
Jordan, a Vietnam veteran, found himself on death row for murdering Edwina Marter, the wife of a bank employee, in 1976. He was prosecuted for kidnapping Marter from her home and demanding a ransom of $25,000. The shipyard worker was eventually caught by the police when he came to collect the money. During investigation, Jordan confessed to Marter's murder and led authorities to her body in a forest, which bore gunshot wounds.
In his final statement, Jordan expressed gratitude for the humanitarian treatment he received and apologized to Marter's family. He also thanked his lawyers, his wife, and asked for forgiveness. His last words on earth were, "We'll all meet on the other side."
Interestingly, Jordan's execution is not an isolated event in 2025. So far, 24 death row inmates have been executed in the US this year, matching the total number of executions for the entire previous year. Florida, in particular, has seen seven executions, with two taking place just a couple of days apart.
President Donald Trump is a staunch supporter of capital punishment, having expressed his desire for an expansion of capital punishment to tackle the most heinous crimes at the start of his second term. It's important to note that the death penalty is banned in 23 US states, with three others having ceased its use temporarily.
Intriguing, isn't it? The justice system doesn't forget and old debts are paid, one way or another. Stay tuned for more updates on these fascinating stories.
Sources: ntv.de, jpe/AFP
- USA
- Death Penalty
- Mississippi
Enrichment Data:As per recent reports, the total number of executions in the US in 2025, up to mid-year, is 24[1]. This number comes from a compilation indicating that 41 execution dates were scheduled across 11 states, with 24 executions confirmed so far. Texas has seen multiple executions, with one more scheduled for later in the year[2].
The Commission has also been consulted on the draft directive regarding the increasing number of executions in the US, a matter that falls under the category of 'crime-and-justice' and 'general-news'. In the midst of the ongoing discussions, politics have become an integral part of the conversation, with President Trump advocating for the expansion of capital punishment.
