South-Carolina

South Carolina to execute Freddie Owens despite questions over guilt. What to know

Published

1 year ago

September 20, 2024

South Carolina to execute Freddie Owens despite questions over guilt. What to know

Owens is set to be executed by lethal injection in the state’s first execution in 13 years. This despite a key witness who testified against Owens now proclaiming his innocence.

A death row inmate convicted of killing a single mother of three children in South Carolina is set to become the first execution in the state in more than a decade and the 14th in the nation this year, despite a key witness who testified against him now proclaiming his innocence.

Freddie Eugene Owens, 46, is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection at 6 p.m. on Friday. He was convicted of killing of 41-year-old Irene Grainger Graves, who was shot in the head at the convenience store where she worked during a Halloween night robbery in 1997.

On Wednesday, Owens’ co-defendant in the robbery, Steven Golden, signed a sworn statement saying that Owens didn’t shoot Graves and was not even there that night, according to reporting by the Greenville News, part of the USA TODAY Network.

“Freddie Owens is not the person who shot Irene Graves at the Speedway on November 1, 1997,” Golden told the South Carolina Supreme Court. “Freddie was not present when I robbed the Speedway that day.”

On Thursday, the South Carolina Supreme Court declined to stop the execution, saying the sworn statement didn’t trump Owens’ previous alleged confessions. Now Owens’ last hope is Republican Gov. Henry McMaster, who has the power to grant clemency in the case.

Here’s what you need to know about the execution.

What was Freddie Eugene Owens convicted of?

Owens and Golden were convicted in Graves’ death, which came during a robbery of the convenience store where she worked in Greenville, South Carolina. Graves was shot in the head after she told the men that she could not open the store safe.

Owens has always maintained he was at home in bed at the time of the robbery, and now Golden’s statement backs that up.

Golden said he went along with detectives who told him to say that Owens was with him during the robbery, saying he was afraid of getting the death penalty. In a statement to police, Golden said he “substituted Freddie for the person who was really with me in the Speedway that night.”

“I did that because I knew that’s what the police wanted me to say, and also because I thought the real shooter or his associates might kill me if I named him to the police,” he said. “I am still afraid of that. But Freddie was actually not there.”

Golden reached a plea agreement with prosecutors to testify against Owens and avoided the death penalty. His murder charge was reduced to voluntary manslaughter and he was sentenced to 28 years in prison.

In response to the state Supreme Court’s decision to allow the execution to proceed, one of Owens’ attorneys, Gerald Bo King, said he was “disappointed” in the ruling “despite compelling evidence of his innocence that emerged.”

“South Carolina is on the verge of executing a man for a crime he did not commit,” he said.

Who is Freddie Eugene Owens?

Owens’ childhood was filled with neglect, abuse, trauma and psychological difficulties. His older sister described their father as extremely violent and abusive, saying he hit the children “all the time” with bats, beer cans, extension cords and belts “until we bled,” according to court records obtained by USA TODAY.

Owens’ mother, Dora Diane Mason, recounted how Owens’ father abused him as a child.

“I remember a time when Freddie was about 1 year old – he was very small – that his father got mad at him and whooped him and shook him so hard,” Mason said. “After he stopped and I was able to get Freddie, I couldn’t get Freddie to stop crying no matter how I tried.”

Today, Owens has chosen to go by a different name − Khalil-Divine Black Sun-Allah − after converting to Islam in prison. Court records still refer to him as Owens.

When he was first incarcerated, he wrote detailed letters to a woman he loved, at times expressing anger and jealousy and others showing his deeply vulnerable side, saying: “I’m as fragile as a child.”

A death row inmate’s letters: Read vulnerable, angry thoughts written by Freddie Owens

Who was Irene Grainger Graves?

Arte Graves, who was 18 when his mother was killed, said he remembers how hard-working and fun she was.

Irene Graves, who was a single mom, worked three jobs at the Speedway convenience store, Kmart and a supermarket called Bi-Lo to support her kids.

“She always reminded us to look after each other and always reminded us that we were family, to look after each other,” Arte Graves, now 45, told USA TODAY in an interview. “We were always having fun. I liked wrestling when I was growing up so she would take me to the wrestling shows when they were at the old auditorium.”

He said his mother was also strong, determined, and loving.

Arte Graves said he had just moved to Delaware for college when his mom was murdered, and that he immediately moved back to South Carolina to be with his younger siblings, who were just 10 and 11 years old at the time. He still lives in the state and owns a small transportation company.

About his mom, he said: “I miss her every day.”

When and where will Freddie Eugene Owens be executed?

Owens is set to be executed by lethal injection at 6 p.m. on Friday at the Broad River Correctional Institute in Columbia, South Carolina.

What will Freddie Eugene Owens’ last meal be?

Details on his last meal will be released on Friday, according to Chrysti Shain, a spokesperson with the South Carolina Department of Corrections.

Owens will get the chance to say his last words before he is killed. Check back with USA TODAY to find out what they are.

Who will witness Freddie Eugene Owens’ execution?

Arte Graves told USA TODAY that he will be among the witnesses to the executions but said whether other family members will is still up in the air.

Members of the media will be at the execution, including:

The Greenville News, part of the USA TODAY Network
The Associated Press
Fox Carolina
The Charleston Post and Courier

When is the nation’s next execution?

Owens’ execution is the first of five scheduled in the U.S. in only a six-day period. On Tuesday, Texas is set to execute Travis James Mullis in the 2008 murder of his baby boy, and Missouri is set to execute Marcellus Williams in the death of 1998 fatal stabbing of a former reporter despite prosecutors and victim family members arguing that he should be spared because he could very well be innocent.

After Tuesday’s double execution, Thursday is expected to bring two more back-to-back executions. Alabama is set to use nitrogen gas to execute Alan Eugene Miller in the shooting deaths of three co-workers in 1999 despite evidence of his mental illness and a witness to the state’s previous nitrogen gas execution in January who described the method as “horrific.”

Also Thursday, Oklahoma is set to execute Emmanuel Littlejohn in the death of a convenience store clerk in 1992 despite his arguments that he wasn’t the shooter.

If all five executions proceed, the U.S. will have executed 18 death row inmates this year. Another six are scheduled, and more could be added to the calendar.

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.

Source link

Click to comment

South-Carolina

2026 Football Schedule Unveiled

Published

11 hours ago

December 11, 2025

Press Room

The University of South Carolina’s 2026 football schedule has been unveiled, it was announced tonight on the SEC Network.

The Gamecocks’ 2026 schedule features nine regular-season SEC contests, with five games at home and four on the road. The schedule also includes non-conference games versus Kent State and Towson as part of the seven-game home slate, and a non-conference road contest at Clemson.

After opening the season with three-consecutive home games for the first time since 2014, the Gamecocks will alternate home and road contests throughout the remainder of the schedule. The 2026 schedule features just one open date which will come on week 7 (October 17).

As announced on Monday, the Gamecocks will open the season on Sept. 5 by hosting Kent State. Carolina drubbed the Golden Flashes in its only previous encounter, a 77-14 decision in 1995. Kent State finished the 2025 season with a 5-7 mark overall and a 4-4 record in the Mid-American Conference.

Week 2 will see the Towson Tigers make their first trip to Williams-Brice Stadium. The Tigers compete in the FCS Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) and posted a 6-6 record in 2025 under head coach Pete Shinnick.

The Gamecocks begin their nine-game SEC gauntlet on Sept. 19 when Mississippi State visits Columbia. Carolina has won eight of the last nine meeting with the Bulldogs including a 37-30 win in 2023, the only contest played between the two schools since 2016. The Gamecocks lead the all-time series by a 10-7 margin. Mississippi State is one of seven teams on Carolina’s 2026 schedule that is playing in a post-season game this year.

The Gamecocks first road trip of the 2026 season takes them to Tuscaloosa on Sept. 26 for a date with the Alabama Crimson Tide, one of four teams on South Carolina’s 2026 slate that will appear in this year’s College Football Playoffs. It will mark the third-consecutive season that Carolina and Alabama have squared off, with the Tide narrowly winning the previous two – 27-25 in Tuscaloosa in 2024 and 29-22 in Columbia in 2025.

The Gamecocks and Kentucky Wildcats will meet in Columbia on Oct. 3. The teams met in Williams-Brice Stadium on Sept. 27, 2025, with Carolina prevailing by a 35-13 score, its fourth-straight win in a series they lead 22-14-1.

Carolina wraps up the first half of the season at Florida on Oct. 10. The Gamecocks and Gators met every year on the gridiron from 1992-2023 but have not played in either of the last two seasons. Florida holds a commanding 31-10-3 lead in the all-time series including a 17-2 advantage when playing in The Swamp. Carolina’s last win in Gainesville came in overtime the 2014 season.

After an open date on Oct. 17, the Gamecocks will return to action at home on Oct. 24 against the Tennessee Volunteers. Like Florida, the Gamecocks and Vols met every year from 1992-2023 but have not played in either of the last two seasons. Tennessee leads the all-time series by a 29-13-2 count including a narrow 10-8-2 advantage when the game has been played in Columbia.

The Gamecocks will spend Halloween in Norman playing the Oklahoma Sooners. The teams had never met prior to OU joining the SEC but have played each of the past two seasons with each team winning on the others’ home field.

The Bonham Trophy will be at stake on Nov. 7 when Texas A&M visits Williams-Brice Stadium. The Gamecocks and Aggies have met every year since A&M joined the SEC in 2014. The Aggies hold a 10-2 advantage in the all-time series, but the Gamecocks have won each of the last two meetings in Columbia.

The Gamecocks will travel to Fayetteville, Ark. for just the second time since 2013 when they tangle with the Arkansas Razorbacks on Nov. 14. South Carolina has won three of the last four games with the Hogs, but Arkansas clings to a 14-10 advantage in the all-time series.

The second-longest running series in school history behind only Carolina-Clemson, the Carolina-Georgia rivalry gets renewed on Nov. 21 when the Bulldogs make their way to Columbia from Athens. Georgia has won 55 of the previous 76 meetings between the flagship schools from neighboring states, with the Gamecocks last win coming in 2019.

The 2026 regular season comes to an end on Nov. 28 when the Gamecocks and Clemson Tigers meet in the annual Palmetto Bowl. The 2026 meeting will take place in the Upstate, where the Gamecocks have won each of their last two visits.

SEASON TICKETS
Whether you’ve been attending games for years or want to experience the magic for the first time, it’s not too early to secure your season tickets for the 2026 season. Season tickets are available for as low as $65 per game with a 10-month payment plan option available. Fans interested in purchasing season tickets for the first time, can place a season ticket deposit today for only $50 plus fees or fill out our season ticket interest form to receive more information. Current season ticket holders will receive information soon on how to renew their tickets for the 2026 season and can contact their Gamecock Club Account Representative today to enroll in the 10-month payment plan. For more information on ticket options for the 2026 season, visit 2026 Football Hub.

2026 SOUTH CAROLINA FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Sept. 5                  vs Kent State
Sept. 12 vs Towson
Sept. 19 vs Mississippi State*
Sept. 26 at Alabama*
Oct. 3 vs Kentucky*
Oct. 10 at Florida*
Oct. 17 OPEN DATE
Oct. 24                 vs Tennessee*
Oct. 31 at Oklahoma*
Nov. 7 vs Texas A&M*
Nov. 14                 at Arkansas*
Nov. 21                 vs Georgia*
Nov. 28 at Clemson

*-SEC game

Source link

South-Carolina

Nebraska targeting former South Carolina coach Lonnie Teasley

Published

23 hours ago

December 11, 2025

Press Room

Nebraska targeting former South Carolina coach Lonnie Teasley

Nebraska is targeting ex-South Carolina offensive line coach Lonnie Teasley for an offensive staff role, according to the Omaha World-Herald’s Sam McKewon. The role itself is still to be determined.

Teasley spent three seasons as the Gamecocks’ offensive line coach. He had been with the program since 2021, serving as an offensive analyst. He assumed on-field coaching duties for the program in 2022.

Teasley was let go by South Carolina in October, ending his time with the program.

In addition to his coaching role, he was a strong recruiter for the Gamecocks. He most recently landed Darius Gray, the top interior offensive line recruit in the 2026 class. He was also able to land four-star offensive tackle Kamari Blair for the class as well.

Nebraska football has undergone several changes on offense over the last couple of days. They hired former Georgia Tech offensive line coach Geep Wade for the same position on Saturday, following the firing of Donovan Raiola.

The program is making sweeping changes on both sides of the football. Adding Teasley to the staff would be important for the program, which needs to be better prepared across all areas.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes and opinions.

Source link

South-Carolina

South Carolina measles outbreak is ‘accelerating,’ driving hundreds into quarantine

Published

1 day ago

December 10, 2025

Press Room

South Carolina measles outbreak is ‘accelerating,’ driving hundreds into quarantine

The health department deployed mobile health clinics to the area to provide MMR shots, but few people in the community took advantage. “I can tell you that a relatively small number of doses was administered at each of the mobile health unit clinics that we offered,” Bell said.

No other vaccination clinics are planned, according to the department’s website.

People who are not vaccinated are almost always infected after they’re exposed to the virus; measles is the most contagious known virus in the world and can hang in the air for hours.

The current spread in South Carolina is occurring at several schools and a church in Spartanburg County, Bell said, with 254 people under a three-week quarantine. It takes 21 days for symptoms to occur after an exposure.

But with the ongoing spread in schools, some students who remain unvaccinated are now in a second 21-day quarantine since the beginning of the school year, Bell said. She did not have an exact number of kids in their second quarantine, but said it’s not a “significant proportion.”

While the quarantine includes weekends and holidays, 42 days is a significant amount of time away from the classroom.

The spread of measles is not isolated to South Carolina. On Wednesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a total of 1,912 measles cases so far in 2025.

The majority of cases have occurred in unvaccinated children and teenagers.

Outbreaks in the Western U.S. are ongoing: 176 in Arizona and 115 in Utah, according to state health officials. One of the Utah cases occurred at a child care facility with a high school in Salt Lake County.

The infected person was at the facility all day, every day last week (Dec. 1 through Dec. 5), the Utah Department of Health & Human Services said.

And health officials in Montezuma County, Colorado, located on the border of Utah and Arizona, reported an unvaccinated child had been diagnosed with measles. The child had no known connection to any other cases and hadn’t traveled outside of the state.

“The lack of a clear source of infection suggests that unidentified measles cases may be occurring in or traveling” through the area, investigators said.

Symptoms of measles can include:

Headache, fever that may spike to over 104 degrees
Cough, runny nose
Red, watery eyes
Tiny white spots inside the mouth
A rash that begins on the scalp and travels down to the neck, trunk, arms and legs.

Approximately 11% to 12% of measles cases require hospitalization. Three people, including two young girls, have died in the U.S. this year.

MMR vaccines, given in two doses around a child’s first and fifth birthdays, provide 97% protection against the virus.

Source link