Convicted killer Richard Jordan has been executed. MDOC officials say he died by lethal injection at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at 6:16 p.m.
The execution procedures began at 6 p.m., and Jordan, 79, was pronounced dead at 6:16 p.m. CDT. The Mississippi Department of Corrections carried out the order of the Mississippi Supreme Court issued on May 1, 2025. The execution occurred after several appeals from Jordan’s attorneys, including to the Fifth Circuit Court and the U.S. Supreme Court, were denied.
Jordan was sentenced to death in Jackson County Circuit Court for the kidnapping and murder of Edwina Marter, 35. She was a married mother of two. She was home with her three-year-old son when Jordan, posing as an electrical repairman, kidnapped her at gunpoint on January 13, 1976
MDOC officials say Jordan’s last meal would consist of chicken tenders, French fries, strawberry ice cream and a root beer float.
Jordan was the state’s longest-serving and oldest death row inmate when executed.
This comes after the United States Supreme Court denied an application for stay of execution earlier today.
Orders from the court came just hours before Richard Jordan was scheduled to be executed for kidnapping and killing a Harrison County mother.
Jordan filed for the petition Wednesday, asking the United States Supreme Court to grant a stay of execution.
He argued that the three-drug protocol the state uses for lethal injection would be cruel and unusual punishment, violating the U.S. Constitution.
This final petition was one of multiple legal efforts made over the nearly 50 years Jordan has attempted since he was convicted.
The State said about Wednesday’s petition in an official court filing, “Petitioner’s claim is meritless and does not warrant further review,” and that a last-minute stay should be denied.
Marc McClure, Mississippi State Penitentiary superintendent, said that Jordan visited with family, lawyers and spiritual advisers Wednesday and that family members would be allowed to stay with him until 4 p.m., when he was offered his requested last meal.
Jordan had already shot Marter in the back of the head in the middle of the woods, killing her. He was captured after what he thought was going to be a payoff from the husband.
Eric Marter, who was 11 when his mother was killed, said neither he, his brother, nor his father will attend the execution, but other family members are expected to be there.
“It should have happened a long time ago,” he said of the execution. “I’m not really interested in giving him the benefit of the doubt.”
Death Penalty Action said Jordan served three tours of duty with the U.S. Army in Vietnam and was severely traumatized after serving.
Despite public petitions, Gov. Tate Reeves said the execution would proceed as scheduled and that “justice will be done.”
