South Carolina Schedules Execution for Inmate Who Taunted Police
UPDATE: South Carolina has just announced the execution date for Stephen Bryant, a man notorious for a gruesome murder that took place over 20 years ago. The state Supreme Court issued a death warrant for Bryant, 44, setting his execution for November 14, 2023, after denying a request from his legal team for a delay due to the ongoing federal government shutdown.
Bryant was convicted of murdering Willard “TJ” Tietjen, whom he shot multiple times before taunting law enforcement by painting “catch me if u can” on the wall with the victim’s blood. This horrific act occurred in Sumter County, South Carolina, during a series of random killings in October 2004 that left the community in fear. Prosecutors revealed that Bryant also shot and killed two other men he had given rides to, executing them as they urinated on the side of rural roads.
As the clock ticks down to his execution, Bryant must decide by October 31 whether he will face death by lethal injection, firing squad, or the electric chair. This execution will mark the 50th carried out in South Carolina since the death penalty resumed in 1985 and the seventh in just over a year since the state reopened its death chamber after a long hiatus.
Authorities have confirmed that Bryant’s crimes were not only brutal but also left a lasting impact on the victims’ families. Tietjen’s daughter, Kimberly Dees, recounted a chilling phone call where she heard Bryant’s taunting voice, confirming her father’s death—“I’m the prowler,” he said, solidifying the horror of the moment.
In recent years, executions in South Carolina have faced scrutiny, with condemned inmates arguing that the state’s methods constitute cruel and unusual punishment. Concerns have been raised about the firing squad’s accuracy and the administration of lethal injection drugs. However, previous inmates have not been able to halt their executions despite these claims.
As the nation watches closely, the upcoming execution of Stephen Bryant highlights the ongoing debates surrounding the death penalty in America. With at least 38 executions executed across the U.S. this year alone, including another scheduled for Friday in Arizona, the pressure mounts on state officials balancing justice and ethical considerations.
As South Carolina prepares for Bryant’s execution, all eyes are on the state’s decisions and the emotional toll this case continues to exert on the victims’ families and the community.
