News Summary

Stephen Stanko, 57, was executed by lethal injection in South Carolina for the murders of his girlfriend and elderly friend. His execution highlighted ongoing debates about the death penalty and the ethics of capital punishment. Stanko had expressed remorse and a desire for forgiveness prior to his execution. Outside the prison, demonstrators rallied against the death penalty, showing increasing opposition to capital punishment in the state. This event marks a significant moment in the discussion surrounding the morality and implications of the death penalty in South Carolina.

Columbia, South Carolina – Stephen Stanko, 57, was executed by lethal injection on June 13, 2025, for the murders of his girlfriend and elderly friend. The execution took place at the Broad River Correctional Institution, commencing at 6:06 p.m. and concluding with Stanko’s pronouncement of death at 6:34 p.m. This execution marks the sixth in South Carolina since the state resumed carrying out death sentences after a 13-year moratorium that was largely a result of drug shortages.

Stanko was sentenced to death following his conviction for fatally shooting his friend, Henry Turner, after murdering his girlfriend, Laura Ling, in April 2005. In the days leading up to his execution, Stanko had expressed a desire for forgiveness from the families of his victims, stating his hope to be remembered beyond his worst actions. His final statement included an apology directed at the victims’ families.

During the execution, a media witness reported observing a tear fall from Stanko’s eye prior to the administration of the lethal injections. The procedure followed a new protocol implemented by South Carolina, which required the announcement of each dose of the drug, pentobarbital, to enhance transparency. Stanko’s choice of lethal injection came after he had initially considered opting for execution by firing squad, a method he later declined due to ethical concerns surrounding other execution methodologies.

Stanko’s last meal consisted of fried fish, crab cakes, sweet tea, and various desserts. Witnesses to his execution included family members of both the victims and Stanko’s relatives, who remained composed until the conclusion of the procedure.

Outside the prison, approximately 30 demonstrators rallied against the death penalty, organized by members of the South Carolinians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston. Protesters carried signs with messages such as “Execute justice, not people” and “Don’t kill for me. I oppose the death penalty,” signaling a growing opposition to capital punishment in the state.

Stanko, who had been on death row for convictions related to two separate murders, remained the center of a controversial debate regarding the ethics of the death penalty and execution methods. Despite multiple last-minute appeals and a clemency request that Governor Henry McMaster declined, Stanko’s execution proceeded without further legal interruptions.

The implementation of Stanko’s execution occurs amid ongoing discussions and conflicts related to the death penalty in South Carolina, which has seen a series of executions resume following the lengthy hiatus. Advocates and opponents alike continue to engage in dialogue over the moral implications of capital punishment and its application in the state’s justice system.

As Stanko’s case winds down with his execution, the state and its residents may witness intensifying scrutiny surrounding the use of the death penalty and how it reflects on societal values of justice and humanity.

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Author: hereaiken