PARCHMAN, Miss. — A Mississippi man convicted of kidnapping, raping, and killing a 20-year-old community college student in 1993 was executed Wednesday.
Charles Crawford, 59, was pronounced dead at 6:15 p.m. following a lethal injection at the Mississippi State Penitentiary in Parchman.
Crawford spent more than 30 years on death row. His execution comes several months after the execution of Mississippi’s longest-serving death row inmate, reflecting a year of rising executions nationwide.
Given the chance to make a last statement, Crawford expressed love for his family and said, “I’m at peace. I’ve got God’s peace,” adding, “I’ll be in heaven.” He addressed the victim’s family, stating, “True closure and true peace, you cannot reach that without God.”
The execution process began at 6:01 p.m. and Crawford was seen taking deep breaths before his movements ceased.
Crawford was convicted of abducting Kristy Ray from her parents’ home in Tippah County on January 29, 1993. Upon returning home, Ray's mother found her daughter's car was missing and a ransom note was left behind.
The following day, another ransom note was discovered in Crawford’s former father-in-law’s attic, leading to his arrest. He claimed to be coming back from a hunting trip.
Despite his claims of blackouts and lack of memory regarding the occasion, Crawford was convicted of the crimes based on a history of prior violent offenses, including a separate assault charge which contributed to the "aggravating circumstances" in his murder trial.
Crawford attempted to overturn his death sentence multiple times. However, an order issued minutes before his execution saw the U.S. Supreme Court decline to stop the process. Justice Sonia Sotomayor and others issued dissenting remarks regarding the decision.
An unresolved appeal focused on claims that his Sixth Amendment rights were violated during his original trial, but this too was dismissed, stating that Crawford did not act quickly enough in bringing the matter to court.
Crawford was noted by legal representatives as having a positive presence on death row, advocating for fellow inmates. On the day of his execution, he had visited with his family and a preacher.
This execution marks the third in the United States over a two-day span, highlighting a continuing wave of executions this year.
