Loran Cole Executed for Murdering FSU Student; Sister Was Raped

On Thursday, Florida executed Loran Cole, who was convicted of the 1994 murder of 18-year-old John Edwards, a college student at Florida State University. The tragic incident also involved the sexual assault of Edwards’ older sister, marking it as a horrific chapter in a family’s life during what began as a seemingly enjoyable camping trip.

Cole, 57, received lethal injection and was pronounced dead at 6:15 p.m. at Florida State Prison in Raiford, which is located approximately 40 miles southwest of Jacksonville. This execution was notable as it was Florida’s first of the year and the 13th carried out in the United States.

The conviction stems from events that unfolded in the Ocala National Forest about 70 miles northwest of Orlando in 1994. Edwards and his sister encountered Cole and another man, William Paul, as they set up their campsite. The two men offered to assist, but the night took a sinister turn when Cole assaulted the sister, and their brother attempted to intervene, resulting in his death.

On the day of his execution, Cole awoke at 6 a.m. His last meal consisted of pizza, M&M’s, ice cream, and soda. Although he did not choose to meet with a spiritual adviser, he was accompanied by his 36-year-old son, Ryan Cole, and a close friend, Beth Evans, who had corresponded with him for four years. Despite being offered a sedative, it remains unclear if he accepted it.

Cole did not make any final statements before his execution, and a prison doctor later confirmed his death.

Interestingly, none of the Edwards family members attended the execution. Under the guidelines established by the Florida Department of Corrections, family witnesses are not permitted to be present. This absence has sparked various reactions, notably from anti-death penalty advocates.

The organization, Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, released a statement post-execution, denouncing the action as hypocritical. They argued that Cole’s execution was particularly distressing given the recognition by state officials of the lifelong harm caused to children at the now-closed Dozier School for Boys, where Cole had been subjected to abuse.

In their statement, they criticized the lack of transparency and accessibility regarding the clemency process. They claimed to have attempted to deliver over 7,000 signed petitions to the governor’s office but were informed that there was no means for public access due to ongoing construction. This added to their view that the justice system surrounding capital punishment is flawed, particularly in instances where public input is disregarded.

On the fateful night of February 18, 1994, the Edwards siblings were preparing to photograph alligators at a pond near their campsite. However, before reaching their destination, Cole attacked the sister, handcuffing her. Edwards attempted to assist his sister, but he was attacked as well, suffering fatal injuries from a slashed throat and severe head trauma. His sister was assaulted before managing to break free and call for help after being rescued by a passerby.

Three days later, Cole and Paul were arrested in connection with the crimes. They were charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping, and robbery, among other charges. Cole received a death sentence, while Paul accepted a plea deal in exchange for a life sentence. He remains incarcerated.

Leading up to the execution, Cole’s son visited him in prison, expressing his belief that his father did not commit the murder. Cole’s appeals and claims of innocence persisted throughout the years, bolstered by the assertion that the murder weapon had been found in Paul’s possession. Cole’s legal team also argued that he had suffered considerable abuse during his time at the Dozier School, requesting that his life be spared on those grounds.

On the morning of his execution, approximately 30 minutes prior, Cole’s final appeal was rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court. Florida’s Supreme Court had previously denied a similar request the week before. This execution marked a significant moment in Florida’s history, being the 106th execution since the reinstatement of the death penalty in the United States in 1976.

Just two days before Cole’s execution, another Florida man, Wade Wilson, was sentenced to death for the 2019 murders of Kristine Melton and Diane Ruiz, illustrating the ongoing nature of capital punishment cases in the state.

Source: USA TODAY