Governor Reeves posted this a couple of hours ago:
I’ve been repeatedly asked this week by the press and others about the execution scheduled for tomorrow evening, and want to be clear to my fellow Mississippians where things stand.
I have reviewed the clemency petition and met with my counsel to discuss the request and the facts of this case. By his own admission, Richard Jordan is guilty of kidnaping for ransom Mrs. Edwina Marter at gun point from her home where her three-year-old son was sleeping, forcing her to drive into the Desoto National Forest and shooting her in the back of the head. Following this premeditated and heinous act, Mr. Jordan demanded and was paid a $25,000 ransom prior to being apprehended by law enforcement. He has been convicted by multiple juries of capital murder and sentenced to death. His most recent round of appeals and stay motions have been considered and rejected by the United States Supreme Court, the Mississippi Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and the United States District Court. At this time, all necessary procedures are being followed with the anticipation that the execution will proceed as scheduled.
This is a somber responsibility, and one that nobody enjoys. But it is a responsibility I take seriously as part of the oath I took to faithfully discharge the duties of Governor.
Justice must be done - and in Mississippi - justice will be done.
Thank you for sharing this here. This is a very somber day indeed. Killing Richard Jordan fifty years later does nothing to make the citizens of Mississippi safer and nothing to honor Edwina Marter’s name. This is not justice, it’s state-sanctioned murder and dehumanizing to all involved. Sadly, I expected no better from Tate Reeves.
Thank you for spotlighting all of this. The 13 minute video in the link was well done and devastating.
Governor Reeves posted this a couple of hours ago:
I’ve been repeatedly asked this week by the press and others about the execution scheduled for tomorrow evening, and want to be clear to my fellow Mississippians where things stand.
I have reviewed the clemency petition and met with my counsel to discuss the request and the facts of this case. By his own admission, Richard Jordan is guilty of kidnaping for ransom Mrs. Edwina Marter at gun point from her home where her three-year-old son was sleeping, forcing her to drive into the Desoto National Forest and shooting her in the back of the head. Following this premeditated and heinous act, Mr. Jordan demanded and was paid a $25,000 ransom prior to being apprehended by law enforcement. He has been convicted by multiple juries of capital murder and sentenced to death. His most recent round of appeals and stay motions have been considered and rejected by the United States Supreme Court, the Mississippi Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and the United States District Court. At this time, all necessary procedures are being followed with the anticipation that the execution will proceed as scheduled.
This is a somber responsibility, and one that nobody enjoys. But it is a responsibility I take seriously as part of the oath I took to faithfully discharge the duties of Governor.
Justice must be done - and in Mississippi - justice will be done.
Thank you for sharing this here. This is a very somber day indeed. Killing Richard Jordan fifty years later does nothing to make the citizens of Mississippi safer and nothing to honor Edwina Marter’s name. This is not justice, it’s state-sanctioned murder and dehumanizing to all involved. Sadly, I expected no better from Tate Reeves.