Mississippi Carries Out Execution of Longest-Serving Death Row Inmate for 1976 Murder

Mississippi's oldest inmate on death row was executed nearly five decades after his deadly kidnapping and murder of a banker's wife under a ransom plot.

The 79-year-old Vietnam War veteran, Richard Gerald Jordan, who suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, was put to death by lethal injection at Parchman Penitentiary. His final plea to the U.S. Supreme Court went unanswered. Jordan's crime involved the murder and abduction of Edwina Marter in 1976.

The procedure began at 6 p.m. and ended at 6:16 p.m., as per prison records. Jordan, who appeared calm during the process, breathed heavily several times before becoming still. His last words included an apology to the victim's family and expressions of gratitude to his own supporters.

Among those witnessing the execution were Jordan's wife, Marsha, his attorney, Krissy Nobile, and spiritual guide, Rev. Tim Murphy. They wiped away tears throughout the proceedings.

This execution marks the third in the state over the course of a decade. The last execution before Jordan's was in December 2022.

Capital Punishment Trends

The execution took place amidst a surge in capital punishment cases across the United States, with recent executions also occurring in states like Florida, Alabama, Oklahoma, and South Carolina. This year is poised to exceed execution numbers seen since 2015.

A day before Jordan's execution, Florida carried out a death penalty, reflecting an increase in such penalties nationwide since early this year.

Background of the Case

The Mississippi Supreme Court reveals that in 1976, Jordan made a call to Gulf National Bank, asked for a loan officer, and after hanging up, used a directory to locate Edwina Marter's residence. He abducted her, eventually ending her life in a forest while deceitfully assuring her husband of her safety and demanding a ransom of $25,000.

Edwina's husband and sons chose not to attend the execution, but other family members were present. Eric Marter, Edwina's son, was 11 at the time of her death and had expressed that the execution was long overdue, affirming his belief in Jordan's deserved punishment.

Legal Battles and Mental Health Considerations

Jordan's case involved multiple trials and appeals spanning decades. His defense argued before execution that he was denied proper mental health evaluation during his trials due to Vietnam-related PTSD, claims which were not initially recognized.

A recent petition by Jordan's legal counsel argued that his Vietnam War trauma, which significantly impacted his behavior, was overlooked during his trial. However, Edwina Marter's family rejected this stance, maintaining that Jordan's actions were driven by greed rather than mental distress.