Richard Barry Randolph, 63, was executed by the state of Florida Thursday evening, marking a somber milestone in the state’s use of capital punishment.
Randolph was pronounced dead at 6:12 p.m. at Florida State Prison near Starke, after receiving a three-drug injection. His case stemmed from a brutal attack in 1988 that left a community reeling and a family devastated.
The crime unfolded at a convenience store in Palatka, where Randolph, a former employee, attempted to break into the safe. He was discovered by his former manager, Minnie Ruth McCollum, triggering a violent confrontation.
The struggle quickly escalated into a horrific assault. Randolph subjected McCollum to a savage beating, strangulation, stabbing, and sexual battery before stealing her car and fleeing the scene.
Three witnesses observed Randolph leaving the store and immediately alerted authorities, noting the disarray within. A responding deputy found McCollum clinging to life and rushed her to a hospital.
Despite medical intervention, McCollum remained in a coma for six agonizing days before succumbing to severe brain injuries. Her death ignited a relentless pursuit of her attacker.
Randolph’s capture came swiftly, just days after the attack, at a Jacksonville grocery store. He was attempting to cash stolen lottery tickets and borrow money, and readily confessed to the crime, leading investigators to discarded, bloodstained clothing.
In 1989, Randolph was convicted on multiple charges – murder, armed robbery, sexual battery, and grand theft – and sentenced to death. His appeals continued for decades, but were ultimately unsuccessful.
Last week, the Florida Supreme Court rejected Randolph’s final appeal, which argued errors in the original trial regarding access to records and alleged inadequate representation by his attorneys.
The execution brought Florida’s total for the year to a record-breaking 17, far surpassing the previous high of eight in 2014. The state now leads the nation in executions, outpacing Alabama, South Carolina, and Texas.
Remarkably, Randolph’s final day was marked by a surprisingly ordinary meal: a cheeseburger, fries, and ice cream. He received one visitor but declined the presence of a spiritual advisor.
Three members of McCollum’s family were present at the execution, witnessing the culmination of a decades-long pursuit of justice. Randolph offered no final statement.
Two more executions are already scheduled for December, with Mark Allen Geralds set to be executed on December 9th and Frank Athen Walls on December 18th, both convicted of murder during home-invasion robberies.
Florida’s lethal injection protocol involves a combination of a sedative, a paralytic agent, and a drug to stop the heart, administered by the Department of Corrections.
