Mississippi Executes Charles Crawford After 30 Years on Death Row in 1993 College murder
JACKSON, Miss. – Charles Crawford, 53, was executed by lethal injection in Mississippi on Thursday for the 1993 kidnapping, rape, and murder of 20-year-old kristy Ray, a college student. The execution took place at the Mississippi State Penitentiary,bringing an end to a case that spanned three decades and sparked last-minute legal challenges.
Crawford’s execution marks the first in Mississippi since 2012 and reignites debate surrounding capital punishment and the effectiveness of legal portrayal in death penalty cases. He spent nearly 30 years on death row, with his attorneys arguing his Sixth Amendment rights were violated when his original defense team conceded guilt and pursued an insanity defense against his wishes.
According to the Associated Press, Crawford’s attorneys petitioned the U.S.Supreme Court, claiming his defense lawyers disregarded his instructions. Krissy Nobile, director of the mississippi office of Capital Post-Conviction Relief, who represented Crawford, stated, “it’s almost like he didn’t even get the chance to have [an] innocent or guilty matter as his attorney just overrode his wishes from the outset.”
The Mississippi Supreme court rejected the appeal in September, citing the late filing of the petition.
Ray was a student at Delta State University when she was abducted,sexually assaulted,and murdered. Crawford was convicted in 1994.
Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves affirmed his support for the execution, posting on Facebook on Oct.13, “Justice must be served on behalf of victims.In Mississippi, it will be.”
The Mississippi Department of Corrections has not yet responded to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
