Execution of Longest-Serving Death Row Inmate in Mississippi
On Wednesday, Mississippi executed Richard Gerald Jordan, who had been on death row for nearly 50 years. His crime—a violent kidnapping and murder—was rooted in a ransom scheme against the wife of a bank loan officer.
Jordan, a 79-year-old veteran who struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder, had faced execution since his sentencing in 1976 for the murder of Edwina Mater. His final appeal was denied without comments from the US Supreme Court. He was pronounced dead at 6:16 PM after receiving a lethal injection at Parchman’s Mississippi State Prison.
Prison officials reported that the execution process began at 6 PM. Jordan was observed lying on the gurney, taking a few deep breaths before his body was still.
As one of several death row inmates in the state, Jordan had been involved in a lawsuit challenging the three-drug protocol used for executions, arguing it was inhumane.
When given a chance to speak before his execution, he expressed gratitude and delivered an apology to the families affected by his actions. He thanked his lawyer and wife, seeking forgiveness in his final moments.
This marked the third execution in Mississippi over the past decade, the previous one taking place in December 2022.
Following his actions in 1976, records indicate that Jordan had initially contacted Gulf Coast National Bank seeking a loan officer. After his request was redirected, he looked up Edwina Mater’s address, kidnapped her, and fatally shot her, subsequently calling her husband to demand a ransom of $25,000.
Notably absent from the execution were Edwina Mater’s husband and two sons, although Eric Mater, her son, shared his feelings with the media ahead of time. He emphasized that the experience should have occurred much earlier, stating, “I’m not really interested in giving him the benefit of the doubt.”
Jordan was part of a group of individuals sentenced to death in the 1970s; as of this year, 22 remain on death row, according to the Death Penalty Center. His execution concluded a lengthy legal battle involving four trials and numerous appeals. Recently, the Supreme Court dismissed a petition claiming violations of his rights.
A representative for Jordan highlighted that he had not received appropriate legal support concerning his mental health during the trial, stating that his military experiences were not factored into his defense. The recent plea to Governor Tate Reeves underscored the claims of Jordan’s severe PTSD stemming from his service.
Despite this, Eric Mater dismissed the argument regarding Jordan’s mental health. “I know what he did,” he remarked, underscoring the motive of greed that drove Jordan to commit the crime.
