Devastated Parchman: Mississippi Executes Longest‑Serving Death‑Row Inmate

Parchman (38738) – Mississippi State Penitentiary – Richard Gerald Jordan, Mississippi’s longest-serving death-row inmate, was executed by lethal injection at Parchman’s penitentiary on June 25, ending nearly 50 years behind bars. The 79-year-old Vietnam veteran was convicted in 1976 for the kidnapping and murder of 35-year-old Edwina Marter during a failed ransom scheme. This marked the state’s third execution in the past decade and follows years of appeals, including a Supreme Court challenge over Mississippi’s three-drug protocol.

Jordan’s final hours were overshadowed by courtroom drama: he gave a brief statement, apologizing to the victim’s family and expressing gratitude for the “humane” method of execution. Edwina’s son, Eric Marter, now in his 50s, welcomed the outcome, stating, “It should have happened a long time ago” — underscoring his belief that justice has finally been served.

Beyond the execution itself, Jordan’s case highlights broader questions about mental health, wartime PTSD, and legal fairness. His defense argued he never received a proper independent mental-health evaluation at trial. Still, the courts and Governor Tate Reeves refused clemency, citing overwhelming evidence and severity of the crime.

This story not only ends one of Mississippi’s longest capital punishment sagas—but also prompts wider reflection on how the justice system weighs decades-long appeals against victims’ need for closure.

Detectives, attorneys, and victim-survivors gathered outside Parchman as Jordan’s last appeal was rejected. Mississippi Department of Corrections staff began the procedure shortly after 6 p.m.; Jordan was pronounced dead by 6:16 p.m. His elderly wife and defense counsel were present. Meanwhile, back in Gulfport—where the crime originated—Edwina Marter’s family watched events unfold via livestream. “Nothing can ever restore what he stole from us,” her family stated, reflecting both sorrow and relief.

WHY THIS MATTERS NOW:

After nearly five decades of legal limbo, Jordan’s execution stirs debate over capital punishment persistence, the impact of PTSD on criminal behavior, and whether the justice system neglected mental-health assessments early on.

Update Log

• 🆕 6/25/2025 6:00 p.m.: Execution begins at Mississippi State Penitentiary

• 🆕 6/25/2025 6:16 p.m.: Richard Jordan pronounced dead

• 🆕 6/26/2025: Governor Reeves addresses media on denied clemency