Stephen Bryant Execution Scheduled in South Carolina

The United States — North Carolina Supreme Court has scheduled the execution of Stephen Bryant for November 14. Stephen Bryant, 44, was convicted of murdering Willard Tietjen and two other men in October 2004. He gained notoriety for burning Willard Tietjen's eyes with cigarettes and painting 'catch me if u can' on a wall with the victim's blood. His lawyers' request for a delay, citing the US government shutdown, was denied. Stephen Bryant will be the 50th person executed in United States — North Carolina since the state restarted the death penalty in 1985 and the seventh since executions resumed in September 2024 after a 13-year pause. He has until October 31 to choose his execution method: lethal injection, firing squad, or electric chair. The articles also detail the alleged childhood sexual abuse Stephen Bryant suffered, which his lawyers claim contributed to his troubled state before the killings. Concerns about the cruelty of United States — North Carolina's execution methods, particularly the firing squad and lethal injection, have been raised by attorneys for other inmates, including Mikal Mahdi.