South Carolina to execute Freddie Owens despite doubts about his guilt. What to know
Despite a key witness now claiming Owens’ innocence, he is scheduled for lethal injection, marking the state’s first execution in 13 years.
Freddie Eugene Owens, a death row inmate found guilty of killing a mother of three in South Carolina, is about to face execution, which will be the state’s first in over a decade and the 14th in the U.S. this year. This decision continues despite a critical witness who previously testified against him now asserting his innocence.
The 46-year-old Owens is slated to be executed by lethal injection at 6 p.m. on Friday. His conviction stems from the 1997 murder of Irene Grainger Graves, a 41-year-old who was shot in the head during a robbery at the convenience store where she worked.
Recently, Steven Golden, Owens’ accomplice in the robbery, provided a sworn statement claiming Owens was not the shooter and was not even present that night, as reported by the Greenville News, which is part of the YSL News Network.
“Freddie Owens is not the person who shot Irene Graves at the Speedway on November 1, 1997,” Golden declared before the South Carolina Supreme Court. “Freddie was not there when I robbed the Speedway that day.”
However, on Thursday, the South Carolina Supreme Court rejected a plea to halt the execution, asserting that Golden’s statement did not eclipse Owens’ previous supposed confessions. Owens now awaits a final decision from Republican Gov. Henry McMaster, who has the authority to grant clemency.
Here’s what you should know about the impending execution.
What was Freddie Eugene Owens convicted of?
Both Owens and Golden were found guilty in connection with Graves’ murder, which occurred during a robbery in Greenville, South Carolina. Graves was fatally shot in the head when she informed the men that she could not access the store’s safe.
Owens has always insisted he was at home in bed during the robbery, and Golden’s recent statement supports this claim.
Golden admitted that he conformed to police demands and stated that Owens was with him during the robbery out of fear of receiving the death penalty. He confessed that 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 to hear, and I was also afraid the real shooter or his associates might kill me if I revealed their identity,” he explained. “I remain scared of that. But Freddie was not there at all.”
Golden made a deal with prosecutors to testify against Owens, avoiding the death penalty. His murder charge was reduced to voluntary manslaughter, and he was sentenced to 28 years of imprisonment.
Regarding the state Supreme Court’s decision to allow the execution, Owens’ attorney Gerald Bo King expressed his “disappointment” over the ruling, stating there was “compelling evidence of his innocence” that surfaced.
“South Carolina is on the verge of executing a man for a crime he did not commit,” he remarked.
Who is Freddie Eugene Owens?
Owens experienced a childhood marred by neglect, abuse, trauma, and psychological issues. His older sister described their father as highly violent and abusive, often hitting the children with bats, beer cans, cords, and belts “until we bled,” as indicated by court records obtained by YSL News.
Owens’ mother, Dora Diane Mason, recalled the severe abuse her son faced from his father.
“I remember one instance when Freddie was about a year old — he was very small — and his father got angry with him and whipped him and shook him quite violently,” Mason recounted. “Afterward, when I got him, I couldn’t console Freddie no matter what I did.”
Now, Owens has opted to adopt a different name — Khalil-Divine Black Sun-Allah — after converting to Islam while in prison. Official records still refer to him as Owens.
During his initial time in prison, he wrote deeply emotional letters to a woman he loved, expressing feelings ranging from rage and jealousy to profound vulnerability, stating: “I’m as fragile as a child.”
Who was Irene Grainger Graves?
Arte Graves, who was just 18 when his mother lost her life, fondly remembers her as someone who worked tirelessly while also being a fun-loving person.
Irene Graves, a devoted single mother, juggled three jobs at the Speedway convenience store, Kmart, and a supermarket called Bi-Lo to make ends meet for her children.
“She always encouraged us to care for one another and emphasized the importance of family,” Arte Graves, now 45, shared in an interview with YSL News. “We had a lot of fun together. I was a big wrestling fan as a kid, so she would take me to wrestling shows at the old auditorium.”
Arte characterized his mother as strong, determined, and full of love.
He recounted that he had recently moved to Delaware for college when his mother was murdered, prompting him to return to South Carolina to support his younger siblings, who were only 10 and 11 at that time. He continues to reside in South Carolina, where he runs a small transport business.
Reflecting on his mother, he said, “I think about her every day.”
When and where will Freddie Eugene Owens be executed?
Freddie Eugene Owens is scheduled to be executed via lethal injection at 6 p.m. on Friday at the Broad River Correctional Institute located in Columbia, South Carolina.
What will Freddie Eugene Owens’ last meal be?
Information regarding his last meal is set to be disclosed on Friday, as stated by Chrysti Shain, a representative from the South Carolina Department of Corrections.
Prior to his execution, Owens will have the opportunity to share his final words. Stay tuned to YSL News for updates on what he will say.
Who will witness Freddie Eugene Owens’ execution?
Arte Graves has confirmed to YSL News that he will be present as a witness during the execution, although it remains uncertain if other family members will attend.
Media representatives will also cover the execution, including:
- The Greenville News, a part of the YSL News Network
- The Associated Press
- Fox Carolina
- The Charleston Post and Courier
When is the next execution in the nation?
Owens’ execution marks the first among five scheduled in the United States over a span of six days. On Tuesday, Texas is planning to execute Travis James Mullis, convicted for the murder of his infant son in 2008, while Missouri is set to carry out the execution of Marcellus Williams, associated with a fatal stabbing in 1998, despite arguments from both prosecutors and the victim’s family for him to be spared due to possible innocence.
Following Tuesday’s double execution, two more executions are planned for Thursday. Alabama intends to execute Alan Eugene Miller using nitrogen gas for the shooting deaths of three colleagues in 1999, despite evidence of his mental health issues and previous testimony describing the gas method as “horrific.”
Also on Thursday, Oklahoma plans to execute Emmanuel Littlejohn, implicated in the death of a convenience store clerk in 1992, despite his claims of not being the shooter.
If all five executions proceed as scheduled, a total of 18 death row inmates will have been executed in the U.S. this year, with an additional six already on the schedule, and potentially more to be added.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for YSL News. You can follow him on X @fern_cerv_.