• Richard Gerald Jordan executed after nearly 49 years on death row.
• A Vietnam veteran, Jordan was convicted for the 1976 kidnapping and murder of Edwina Marter.
• Jordan expressed remorse in his final words, asking for forgiveness and thanking his family.
• His execution was the third in Mississippi in a decade and came amidst a rise in U.S. executions this year.
• Claims of PTSD from his Vietnam service were raised but clemency was denied.

Richard Gerald Jordan, the longest-serving inmate on Mississippi's death row, was executed on Wednesday, nearly 49 years after he kidnapped and killed Edwina Marter in a violent ransom scheme. The 79-year-old Vietnam veteran died by lethal injection at the Mississippi State Penitentiary in Parchman, with the execution beginning at 6 p.m. and his death confirmed at 6:16 p.m. His case featured numerous legal challenges and appeals, culminating in this execution, which his supporters claimed was unjust considering his mental health issues as a veteran, specifically post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) acquired during his service, according to CBS News, India Times, Newsweek, and NPR.

In his final moments, Jordan expressed remorse, stating, "First I would like to thank everyone for a humane way of doing this. I want to apologize to the victim's family," and added, "I will see you on the other side, all of you." His execution was witnessed by his wife, Marsha Jordan, and his lawyer, Krissy Nobile, who both showed visible emotion during the procedure. Family members of the victim did not attend but released a statement asserting that nothing could replace what had been lost, emphasizing the enduring pain of Edwina Marter's murder, via CBS News and Newsweek.

Jordan's execution, which followed a series of legal battles including a multi-decade court process and four trials, also highlighted debates regarding capital punishment practices in the U.S. His lawyer argued that the jury never heard about Jordan's military service and the lasting effects of PTSD, which could have influenced their legal defense strategy. These claims echoed arguments made in a recent clemency petition that was ultimately denied by Governor Tate Reeves, according to India Times, NPR, and Newsweek.

This execution marks Mississippi's third in the past decade and reflects a national trend of increased executions in 2023, raising concerns among human rights advocates and legal experts. Jordan's case illustrates the complexities surrounding justice, mental health, and the implications of capital punishment, as he was one of only 22 inmates sentenced in the 1970s still remaining on death row at the beginning of the year, as reported by CBS News, NPR, and India Times.