South Carolina to Execute Freddie Owens Amid Guilt Concerns: Key Details

A death row inmate, Freddie Eugene Owens, who was convicted of murdering a single mother of three in South Carolina, is poised to become the first person executed in the state in over a decade. This execution would also mark the 14th in the United States this year, even as new evidence emerges questioning his guilt.

Scheduled for lethal injection at 6 p.m. on Friday, the 46-year-old Owens was convicted for the 1997 shooting death of 41-year-old Irene Grainger Graves. The incident occurred during a Halloween night robbery at the convenience store where she was employed. Graves was shot in the head after informing the robbers that she could not access the store’s safe.

In a surprising turn, on Wednesday, Steven Golden, Owens’ co-defendant in the robbery, submitted a sworn statement claiming that Owens did not shoot Graves and was not present on the night of the crime. Golden reportedly stated to the South Carolina Supreme Court, “Freddie Owens is not the person who shot Irene Graves at the Speedway on November 1, 1997. Freddie was not present when I robbed the Speedway that day.”

Despite this new testimony, the state Supreme Court declined to intervene in the execution, stating that Golden’s recent proclamation did not outweigh Owens’ previously alleged confessions. Owens now turns to Governor Henry McMaster, who has authority to grant clemency for his case.

Owens has always maintained his innocence, insisting that he was at home asleep during the robbery. Golden’s new statement appears to corroborate this claim. He revealed that he had initially implicated Owens due to pressure from detectives and fear of receiving the death penalty himself. Golden remarked that he “substituted Freddie for the person who was really with me in the Speedway that night,” further asserting that he felt threatened by the real shooter, which influenced his decision to falsely accuse Owens.

As part of a plea deal, Golden’s murder charge was reduced to voluntary manslaughter, and he received a 28-year prison sentence, allowing him to avoid the death penalty. Owens’ attorney, Gerald Bo King, expressed disappointment following the court’s decision, referencing the compelling evidence of Owens’ innocence that has since emerged. “South Carolina is on the verge of executing a man for a crime he did not commit,” King stated.

Freddie Eugene Owens, who has faced a life filled with neglect and trauma, had to navigate a challenging childhood marked by abuse. His sister has recounted the violent behavior of their father, who subjected them to extreme physical punishments. Owens’ mother, Dora, remembered distressing incidents where their father would shake and strike Freddie when he was just a child.

In prison, Owens has adopted the name Khalil-Divine Black Sun-Allah after converting to Islam. His letters from incarceration reveal a complex emotional landscape, oscillating between anger and vulnerability. He has expressed deep emotional turmoil, acknowledging his own fragility and fears.

Irene Grainger Graves, the victim, was a dedicated single mother, steadfastly working multiple jobs to provide for her children. Her son, Arte Graves, who was 18 when she was tragically killed, recalls her as a hard-working and loving person who always emphasized the importance of family. After moving to Delaware for college, Arte returned to South Carolina to support his younger siblings following their mother’s death.

Owens is set to face his execution at the Broad River Correctional Institute in Columbia, South Carolina. Details regarding his final meal will be disclosed on Friday, and he is expected to have an opportunity to share last words before the execution. Arte Graves plans to observe the execution, though it remains uncertain whether other family members will join him.

Owens’ impending execution comes amid a notably busy period for capital punishment in the United States. His execution is the first of five carried out in the span of just six days. Other scheduled executions include Travis James Mullis in Texas, Marcellus Williams in Missouri, Alan Eugene Miller in Alabama, and Emmanuel Littlejohn in Oklahoma, all of whom also have claims of innocence or mitigating circumstances surrounding their cases. If all five proceed as planned, this will bring the total number of executions in the U.S. to 18 this year, with six more on the books.

Source: USA TODAY