A South Carolina death row inmate who fatally shot three men, burning one victim’s eyes and writing a message in the victim’s blood, died by firing squad Friday.
Stephen Bryant, 44, was pronounced dead at 6:05 p.m., after three prison employees executed Bryant by his choice of firing squad.
Bryant had 10 witnesses that he quickly scanned before the hood was placed over his head. Less than a minute later, he was executed.
Bryant made no final statement before his execution.
As previously reported by CrimeOnline on October 31, Bryant opted for execution by firing squad. His sentence stemmed from a brutal murder and a chilling message he left for investigators more than 20 years ago.
Bryant was convicted of the fatal shooting of Willard “TJ” Tietjen. After the killing at Tietjen’s home, Bryant admitted to burning the victim’s eyes with cigarettes.
Bryant also used Tietjen’s blood as paint, dipping a potholder in the blood to write, “victim 4 in 2 weeks. Catch me if you can,” alluding to a string of four victims in two weeks. Candles were lit around Tietjen’s body.
Bryant’s daughter, Kimberly Dees, testified that she tried to call her father several times and grew more concerned with each unanswered call.
On her sixth call, a stranger answered.
When she insisted on speaking with her father, the caller told her, “You can’t, I killed him,” then identified himself as “the prowler,” Dees told the judge who imposed Bryant’s sentence, according to FOX 5 Atlanta.
Prosecutors also accused Bryant of fatally shooting two other men in October 2004 in Sumter County—one before Tietjen’s death and one shortly after.
They said Bryant offered the men rides and shot them in the back as they stopped to urinate on the side of rural roads.
After being shot, Bryant reportedly made no noise, only a few shallow breaths and a brief spasm before being officially pronounced dead by a doctor, the Post reported.
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[Feature Photo: Stephen Bryant/SC Dept of Corrections]
