Southeast
Convicted South Carolina bank killer asks for 'compassionate release' days after Biden commuted death sentence
A South Carolina man convicted in the brutal double murder of two bank employees in 2017 is asking for a “compassionate release” days after President Biden spared his life and commuted his death sentence.
Brandon Council, 28, was convicted in September 2019 in the 2017 double murder of Conway bank employees Katie Skeen, 36, and Donna Major, 59. Council was then sentenced to death by a federal court one month later.
Council was one of 37 federal inmates on death row who had their sentences commuted to life in prison by Biden.
On Friday, Council filed a motion in the U.S. District Court in Florence arguing that he deserved a “compassionate release” because he had been subjected to “severe, unnecessary, and unjustifiable psychological harm” that “can only be accurately construed and assimilated as an act of torture,” since he was permanently housed in solitary confinement since Nov. 4, 2019, according to records obtained by WBTW.
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A compassionate release is described by the American Bar Organization as the process by which those incarcerated may seek early release, whether to community supervision or to their communities, due to extraordinary or compelling circumstances.
Several people have openly disagreed with Biden’s decision to commute the death sentences, including Rep. Russell Fry, R-S.C., who said the decision was “shameful.”
“Biden’s move to pardon 37 federal death row inmates – including 3 men from South Carolina who committed unspeakable acts – continues to shock Americans nationwide. This decision is shameful. It is high time to return America to a country of law and order,” Fry wrote in a post on X.
Fry added in another post following the announcement that Biden’s decision “disgraces victims’ memories nationwide.”
“Joe Biden’s clemency for death row inmates disgraces victims’ memories nationwide, like Donna Major of Conway and Katie Skeen of Green Sea. This shows shocking disregard for innocent families’ pain, right at Christmas. January 20 cannot come soon enough,” Fry wrote in his post on X.
Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Pa., echoed Fry and called Biden’s actions “senseless.”
“President Biden’s decision to commute the sentences of 37 federal death row inmates is not just senseless—it’s an outrageous example of this administration’s upside down and backwards ideology,” Meuser wrote in a post on his X account.
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During an interview with “Fox & Friends,” Major’s family said they were livid after Biden commuted her killer’s death sentence just days before Christmas.
“I was angry. I’m still angry. I am upset that this is even happening, that one man can make this decision without even talking to the victims, without any regard for what we’ve been through, what we’re going through, and completely hurt, frustrated and angry,” Major’s daughter Heather Turner said during the Christmas Eve interview.
“She was shown no mercy at all. This man walked into the bank, never said two words to her. Shot her three times in total. He went and shot her coworker, Katie Skeen as well, who was totally defenseless and unaware of anything happening,” Major’s husband, Danny Jenkins, added during the show.
“I can’t even believe that this is actually happening…”
Council spent a week at a motel across from the CresCom Bank in Conway, South Carolina, where he watched the movie “Get Rich or Die Tryin’” before he went in with a gun and killed both Skeen and Major.
Council already had a prior felony conviction at the time and told an FBI agent that he went into the bank knowing he would kill someone during the robbery.
He had been on parole for a month at the time of the murders, which came during his second bank robbery since leaving prison.
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President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to end the Biden-Harris administration’s moratorium on federal executions when he returns to office.
Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, on Christmas Day to call out Biden for his commutation decision.
“They know that their only chance of survival is getting pardons from a man who has absolutely no idea what he is doing,” Trump’s post read.
“Also, to the 37 most violent criminals who killed, raped, and plundered like virtually no one before them, but were just given, incredibly, a pardon by Sleepy Joe Biden. I refuse to wish a Merry Christmas to those lucky ‘souls’ but instead, will say, GO TO HELL!” Trump continued.
The U.S. government has executed 50 inmates since 1927, according to the Bureau of Prisons, including Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh and Cold War spies Julius and Ethel Rosenberg. That’s far fewer than the individual states, which have executed more than 1,500 condemned inmates in the last 50 years.
The government carried out death sentences for 13 federal prisoners during Trump’s first term, the most under any president in a century.
Fox News Digital’s Michael Ruiz and Taylor Penley and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Stepheny Price is writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. Story tips and ideas can be sent to stepheny.price@fox.com
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Southeast
Florida man allegedly attempted to 'club' wife, stab himself in the heart on Christmas Day
A Florida man was arrested on Christmas Day after allegedly attempting to kill his wife and himself in a murder-suicide, according to police reports.
Jonathan McPhee, 78, faces a first-degree attempted murder charge after he allegedly attacked his wife and then called 911 at the couple’s home on Pine Cone Way.
McPhee told the dispatcher, “I clubbed her, and I’m going to try to stab myself in the heart,” according to a legal document obtained by People Magazine.
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When Largo Police Department officers arrived, they found McPhee had stabbed himself and his wife had suffered blunt-force trauma.
They were both transported to a local hospital, where they are in critical condition.
“While being attended to by medical staff, the defendant spontaneously stated, ‘Just let me die, I killed (redacted),” according to an arrest report.
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He also sent a text to his wife’s daughter saying he “killed” her and was going to kill himself because of “financial and health issues,” the report said.
He allegedly went on to detail how he would like the funeral arrangements and life insurance to be handled.
This is an ongoing investigation, and no further information is available currently.
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Southeast
Florida law will create safety barrier for first responders
A new law in Florida will support the need to keep first responders safe while working a call.
Senate Bill 184 will go into effect on Jan. 1 and will prohibit a person, after receiving a warning, from approaching a first responder engaged in the lawful performance of their job.
The law is aimed at helping police, fire and EMS personnel stay focused while performing critical first aid.
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It will create a 25-foot barrier around the responder, keeping the public at bay. It also includes keeping the public from threatening and harassing the responders while they are trying to do their jobs.
Violators will receive a warning initially, but could face criminal penalties if they don’t heed it.
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The new law comes with a penalty of up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine.
The bill also outlines that a violator could face a second-degree misdemeanor.
It also specifies the definition of “first responder” to include law enforcement officers, a correctional probation officer, firefighters and emergency medical care providers.
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Southeast
Louisiana hunter cited for violations after shooting man he mistook for a deer
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is reiterating the importance of hunting safety after a man was shot by a hunter who mistook him for a deer.
Law enforcement agents responded to a shooting involving two hunters on property in Zachary, a city in East Baton Rouge Parish, on Dec. 23, the department said on Facebook.
The two hunters were unknowingly hunting deer on the “same small private property” when one hunter mistook the other for a deer and accidentally shot him.
Both men had permission to be on the property, according to local media.
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He was hit with buckshot from a 20-gauge shotgun, the agency said. The shooter immediately called 911 for help once he realized he had shot a man and not a deer.
The wounded hunter was airlifted to Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge with non-fatal injuries. Law enforcement did not state where the man was shot.
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When law enforcement investigated what took place, they discovered neither hunter was wearing orange or had deer tags in their possession. The shooter was cited for both violations.
LDWF said additional charges are possible as the investigation remains active.
The agency reminded all hunters to prioritize safety by always wearing orange, which is required by law, and positively identifying your target and surroundings before firing your weapon.
“Let’s work together to prevent incidents like this and ensure everyone enjoys the outdoors safely,” LDWF said.
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