Florida executed Loran Cole on Thursday for the 1994 murder of a college student and sexual assault of his sister during a camping trip. This marked Florida’s first execution of the year and the 13th in the nation. Cole, 57, was pronounced dead after receiving a lethal injection at the Florida State Prison in Raiford.
Cole, who insisted he was innocent until his last moments, did not offer any last words before his execution. Witnesses included guards, journalists, and his 36-year-old son, who visited him on death row. Cole’s last meal included pizza, M&M’s, ice cream, and soda. His family did not attend the execution as it is not allowed under Florida Department of Corrections guidelines.
Cole was convicted in the murder of John Edwards and the sexual assault of his older sister in the Ocala National Forest. He met the siblings and their friend while camping, but things turned tragic when he and another man attacked them. Edwards was found dead with a slashed throat and multiple skull fractures, while his sister was sexually assaulted and tied to trees before being rescued.
Over the years, Cole filed numerous appeals, claiming innocence and citing his abuse at the Dozier School for Boys as a reason for sparing his life. However, all appeals were ultimately denied, and his execution proceeded. Organizations like Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty criticized the execution, calling it hypocritical and questioning the state’s justice system. Florida has executed seven inmates since August 2019, with Cole being the most recent.
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