South Carolina Executes Stephen Stanko for Double Murder

dead at 6:10 p.m. after being convicted for the brutal killings of his ex-girlfriend and her daughter in 2005 and a fellow inmate in 2010. Stanko's execution comes amid a recent uptick in executions in South Carolina, with six taking place in the state since December 2020. The state has faced criticism for its use of the death penalty and its high number of executions, with Stanko being the 43rd person to be executed in South Carolina since 1985. His case also sparked controversy as his lawyers argued that he had an intellectual disability and should not be eligible for execution. Despite this, the Supreme Court denied a stay of execution, allowing the state to proceed with the lethal injection. Stanko's death marks the first execution in South Carolina since the state passed a new law in May that allows inmates to choose between the electric chair and lethal injection. However, Stanko did not make a choice, leaving it up to the state to decide his method of execution. The use of the death penalty remains a contentious issue in the United States, with some states opting to abolish it while others continue to carry out executions. With Stanko's case now closed, it remains to be seen how South Carolina will proceed with future death row inmates." South Carolina made headlines as it executed Stephen Stanko, a man who was sentenced to death twice for separate murders. Stanko was put to death by lethal injection, making it the sixth execution in the state in just nine months. This has sparked criticism towards the state for its frequent use of the death penalty, with Stanko being the 43rd person to be executed in South Carolina since 1985. His case was also controversial as his lawyers argued that he had an intellectual disability, but the Supreme Court denied a stay of execution. This execution marks the first one in the state since a new law was passed in May, allowing inmates to choose between the electric chair and lethal injection. However, Stanko did not make a choice, leaving it up to the state to decide the method of execution. The use of the death penalty remains a contentious issue in the United States, with some states abolishing it while others continue to carry out executions. With Stanko's case now closed, the focus shifts to how South Carolina will handle future death row inmates.