STARKE, Fla. (AP) — Richard Barry Randolph, a 63-year-old man convicted for the 1988 rape and murder of his former manager, Minnie Ruth McCollum, is scheduled to be executed on Thursday evening via lethal injection at Florida State Prison near Starke.
Randolph was found guilty of murder, armed robbery, sexual battery, and grand theft in 1989, leading to his death sentence. This marks Florida's 17th execution in 2025, continuing an alarming trend as the state sets records for executions.
The tragic crime unfolded when Randolph attempted to break into the safe at the Handy-Way convenience store in Palatka, where he once worked. Manager McCollum discovered him in the act, resulting in a violent encounter that led to her rape and murder.
Witnesses reported seeing Randolph leave the scene, and despite McCollum being rushed to a hospital, she succumbed to her injuries six days later.
Randolph was quickly apprehended after he attempted to cash in stolen lottery tickets and borrow money at a nearby grocery store. Investigators found bloody clothing that linked him to the scene.
In recent weeks, the Florida Supreme Court denied his further appeals, asserting his defense lawyers’ decisions during his trial were appropriate and that he had received ample access to public records. The U.S. Supreme Court rejected his appeal this Thursday.
This execution is part of a broader increase in capital punishment across the United States, with 43 executions recorded so far this year. Florida leads the nation in executions, with further executions planned for December.
As the legal battle surrounding the death penalty continues, Florida utilizes a protocol utilizing three drugs for its lethal injections, aiming to carry out justice in accordance with the law.
