Richard Jordan Executed in Mississippi After Nearly 50 Years on Death Row
Richard Jordan, a 79-year-old man, was executed in Mississippi on June 25 for the murder and kidnapping of Edwina Marter back in 1976. He was the oldest and longest-serving inmate on the state’s death row.
The execution took place at the Mississippi State Penitentiary, where Jordan was pronounced dead only 16 minutes after the lethal injection began. This event followed a long legal battle, with Jordan’s appeals ultimately denied by the Mississippi Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court.
Jordan had served nearly five decades in prison for his crime, which involved a violent ransom scheme. He was convicted of kidnapping Edwina, a mother of two, and later shooting her, all while pretending to be an electrical repairman.
Prior to his execution, Jordan expressed his gratitude to his lawyers and wife. In his final statement, he apologized to Edwina’s family and stated, “First, I would like to thank everyone for a humane way of doing this." His last words were, “I will see you on the other side, all of you.”
Edwina’s family shared their thoughts after the execution, expressing mixed feelings of grief and relief. One of her sons, Eric Marter, who was only 11 when she was killed, remarked that “it should have happened a long time ago.” They noted that Jordan’s actions had forever changed their lives and emphasized the ongoing impact of their loss.
In a statement, the family acknowledged that while they may someday find forgiveness, it doesn’t alter the fact that they lived without their mother for 49 years. They felt that Jordan’s execution was a necessary closure for a tragedy that affected so many.
