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 lethal 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 act of violence. Randolph subjected McCollum to a brutal assault, beating, strangling, stabbing, and raping her before fleeing in her car.
Three witnesses observed Randolph leaving the scene and immediately alerted authorities, noting the disarray within the store. 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 pursuit that led to Randolph’s arrest shortly after, at a Jacksonville grocery store.
During his arrest, Randolph was attempting to cash stolen lottery tickets and borrow money. He confessed to the attack, leading investigators to the discarded, bloodstained clothing that linked him directly to the crime.
Randolph was convicted in 1989 of murder, armed robbery, sexual battery, and grand theft, and sentenced to death. His appeals continued for decades, but were ultimately unsuccessful.
Just last week, the Florida Supreme Court rejected Randolph’s final appeal, which argued errors in the original trial regarding access to public records and concerns about his legal representation.
The execution brought Florida’s total for the year to a record-breaking 17, surpassing the previous high of eight in 2014. The state has now carried out more executions than any other in the nation this year.
In a final, stark detail, Randolph reportedly ate a cheeseburger, fries, and ice cream earlier in the day. He had one visitor but declined to meet with a spiritual advisor before his death.
Three members of McCollum’s family were present at the execution. Randolph offered no final words.
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 three-drug combination: a sedative, a paralytic, and a drug to stop the heart. The process, officials stated, was completed without complications.
The state’s aggressive pursuit of capital punishment continues to draw national attention, raising ongoing debates about justice, retribution, and the role of the death penalty in the modern legal system.
