On March 7, 2025, Brad Sigmon, a death row inmate convicted of a double murder, was executed by firing squad in South Carolina—a method not used in the state for 15 years and only the fourth such execution in the United States since capital punishment resumed in 1976. Sigmon’s execution marks a rare and somber moment in the nation’s penal history, drawing attention both to the evolving methods of execution and the ongoing debates regarding capital punishment in America.
I. Background of the Case
A. The Crime and Its Aftermath
In 2002, Brad Sigmon was convicted for the brutal murder of David and Gladys Larke, the parents of his ex-girlfriend. The crime was characterized by extreme violence: Sigmon, in a fit of rage and despair following his breakup, attacked the couple with a baseball bat. The violent nature of the assault, which left little doubt about the premeditation and cruelty involved, ultimately led to a conviction that would result in a death sentence.
Following his conviction, Sigmon was sentenced not only to death but also received two consecutive life sentences and an additional 30-year term for first-degree burglary. Despite his legal team’s efforts to have his sentence commuted to life imprisonment, the jury’s verdict upheld the death penalty. This decision underscored the gravity with which the court viewed his actions and the corresponding need for a punishment deemed commensurate with the severity of his crimes.
