Mississippi Executes Longest-Serving Death Row Inmate
At 79 years old, Richard Jordan was put to death by lethal injection in Mississippi, concluding a death row sentence that spanned almost half a century. His execution marks one of two completed in the United States this week.
The Crime and Conviction
Jordan was convicted back in 1976 for the murder of Edwina Marter, the wife of a Gulfport bank executive. A shipyard worker by trade, Jordan kidnapped Marter from her home, demanding a ransom of $25,000. His capture came when he attempted to collect the ransom money.
Following his arrest, Jordan confessed to the murder and guided authorities to Marter’s body, concealed in a wooded area. She had been fatally shot.
Execution Details and Historical Context
The execution took place at the Mississippi State Penitentiary in Parchman, with Jordan pronounced dead at 6:16 pm Central Time. At the time, he was Mississippi’s longest-serving and oldest death row inmate.
This marks Mississippi’s first execution since December 2022.
National Executions and Methods Overview
Jordan’s execution occurred the day after Thomas Gudinas was executed in Florida for a 1995 murder conviction. Gudinas, 51, was sentenced for the killing of Michelle McGrath, whose body was found battered after she was last seen leaving a bar in Orlando.
To date, Florida leads the nation with seven executions this year. Nationwide, the U.S. has carried out 25 executions in 2025, mostly by lethal injection. Additionally, two were executed by firing squad, and three by nitrogen hypoxia—a method that has raised significant human rights concerns due to its nature.
Death Penalty Status Across the U.S.
- 23 states have abolished the death penalty.
- Three states, including California, Oregon, and Pennsylvania, have imposed moratoriums on executions.
- Capital punishment remains a contentious and polarizing issue nationwide, with some political leaders advocating for expanded use.
Richard Jordan’s execution underscores ongoing debates about the death penalty's morality, efficiency, and application across America.
