South Carolina Inmate Deemed Incompetent for Death Penalty

A South Carolina inmate, who was sentenced to death over 25 years ago for the murder of a state trooper, has been ruled ineligible for execution due to his mental illness, which leads him to believe that he is immortal.

Judge Grace Nee made this decision after considering evaluations from three mental health professionals. She concluded that John Richard Wood, 59, cannot effectively communicate with his lawyer or comprehend the nature of his crime and the associated punishment, as reported by WSPA and the South Carolina Daily Gazette.

Both a prosecution psychiatrist and those representing Wood affirmed that he does not meet the necessary legal standards for competency regarding the death penalty.

This ruling aligns with Wood’s attorney’s claim that his serious schizophrenia prevents him from facing the death penalty right now.

The state Supreme Court will review Judge Nee’s decision, with the possibility of upholding or reversing it. During a hearing in March, expert testimony indicated that Wood believes he is immortal, claiming to have died three times while on death row and confidently stating that if executed, he would simply come back to life. Additionally, he thinks he has already received a pardon from Governor Henry McMaster.

Experts acknowledge the justification for Wood’s death sentence but noted his belief that law enforcement was trying to falsely accuse him of a severe crime. Furthermore, he believes that the judge and court officials were actively working against him in his 2002 trial, a sentiment he links to some divine figure in his view of a cosmic struggle. Wood also claims to have been granted wings and immortality as part of this battle.

Interestingly, he is the first death row inmate in South Carolina deemed incompetent for execution since the state resumed carrying out sentences in 2024, following a 13-year hiatus. During this time, the state had introduced the firing squad as an alternative method of execution, which has been chosen by three of the seven individuals executed since.

Wood was convicted in December 2000 for the murder of Trooper Eric Nicholson during a traffic incident in Greenville County, where Wood fired at Nicholson five times. This engagement led to a lengthy pursuit during which police were shot at, resulting in an officer being injured as well. Wood’s eventual arrest came after he hijacked a truck.

Although a death warrant is pending, Wood’s initial conviction and sentence remain intact. Conversations with the South Carolina Department of Corrections and the judge’s office for further comments are ongoing.