Greenville’s Freddie Owens Set for First South Carolina Execution in Over a Decade

Greenville’s Freddie Owens: The First South Carolina Death Row Inmate to Face Execution in a Decade

Freddie Owens, a man from Greenville, South Carolina, is set to become the first inmate on the state’s death row to face execution since 2011. Owens, 46, will face his sentence by lethal injection. His attorney, Emily Paavola from Justice 360, a Columbia-based company, signed the pertinent documents early this past Friday to establish the method of execution. The authorization to make this decision was issued through an order signed on September 3.

Owens, aligning with his Islamic beliefs, opted not to personally select his execution method. In South Carolina, inmates on death row can choose between lethal injection, death by a firing squad, or the electric chair. In cases where the inmate chooses to abstain from deciding, the electric chair is designated as the default option. The South Carolina Department of Corrections, who sent Owens his execution notice on August 23 for a scheduled date of September 20, declined to comment further on the situation.

Significant Legal Developments and Past Appeals

As per the state procedure, Owens had been given 14 days, up until September 6, to express his preference over the method of execution. This marks the first execution in South Carolina in over a decade, the last being Greenville resident Jeffery Brian Motts, 36, who was also executed by lethal injection in May 2011.

Leading up to this point, attorneys for Owens made at least two appeals in attempts to mitigate his sentence from death to life imprisonment. However, both of these appeals were dismissed, with the most recent denial in September 2006.

The Crime That Brought Him to Death Row

In 1999, Owens was found guilty of murder, armed robbery, and criminal conspiracy related to an incident on Halloween 1997. The victim was a 41-year-old Speedway convenience store worker named Irene Graves. As a result of his conviction, Owens was sentenced to death.

This significant case brings to light the controversial debate surrounding the death penalty in South Carolina and beyond. Owens’s execution, being the first in over a decade, is a stark reminder of the state’s stance on capital punishment. These events continue to fuel discussions on the ethical, legal, and personal perspectives that form the multifaceted aspects of this complex issue.


HERE Spartanburg

Recent Posts

Spartanburg Community Reeling After Fatal Burglary Leads to Arrest

Spartanburg Residents Shocked by Fatal Robbery Incident In Spartanburg, a city caught between the everyday…

9 hours ago

Spartanburg Cross Country Team Ends Regular Season with Strong Fifth-Place Finish at Upstate Invite

Spartanburg Concludes Regular Cross Country Season with an Impressively Solid Finish Hey there folks! As…

9 hours ago

Spartanburg to Host 4th Annual Crash Crucible, Showcasing Rising CrossFit Talent

Spartanburg, SC to Host 4th Crash Crucible For anyone keen on CrossFit—and we know there…

9 hours ago

Tragic Car Crash Claims Lives of Two Sisters in Spartanburg County Amid Power Outages

Spartanburg County Witnesses a Saddening Event The tranquility of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, was disrupted…

9 hours ago

Spartanburg Weather Update: Rainy Thursday Ahead, Sunshine and Warmer Temperatures to Follow

Spartanburg Braces for Rain and Chill, Warmer Days Ahead Spartanburg, SC is about to trade…

9 hours ago

Historic Cocaine Bust Breaks Records in Spartanburg County

Historic Cocaine Bust Goes Down in Spartanburg County Heads up, Greer, South Carolina! Your very…

10 hours ago