South Carolina Killer Faces Firing Squad After Final Appeal Denied

Stephen Bryant, 44, is set to be executed by firing squad after South Carolina’s highest court denied his final appeal. The execution is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET on Friday at a prison in Columbia. This decision follows Bryant’s conviction for the brutal murders of three individuals over a span of five days in October 2004.

Background of the Case

Bryant’s most notorious crime involved the murder of Willard “TJ” Tietjen. He fatally shot Tietjen in his home, leaving taunting messages on the wall written in the victim’s blood, including “catch me if u can.” Investigators revealed that he further violated the victim by burning his eyes with cigarettes.

Victim’s Daughter’s Testimony

Tietjen’s daughter, Kimberly Dees, reported a chilling encounter when she called her father multiple times. During her sixth call, she encountered a man who claimed, “you can’t, I killed him.” This chilling confession later served as crucial evidence in the trial.

Legal Proceedings and Appeals

Bryant’s defense team argued that his mental state was influenced by childhood abuse and neurological damage stemming from his mother’s substance use during pregnancy. However, the South Carolina Supreme Court unanimously upheld the decision to deny his appeal. They stated that additional investigations into his mental health would not have changed the original sentence.

• U.S. Supreme Court declined to review Bryant’s death sentence in October 2023.
• Justices noted the calculated nature of Bryant’s crimes, dismissing claims of impulsivity due to mental impairment.

Execution Methods in South Carolina

Bryant’s impending execution marks him as the third person executed by firing squad in South Carolina this year. The state has faced challenges in sourcing drugs for lethal injection, prompting the introduction of the firing squad as an alternative execution method.

• Brad Sigmon executed in March 2025 was the first in the U.S. by firing squad since 2010.
• Mikal Mahdi followed in April 2025.
• Currently, Bryant will be the 50th person executed in South Carolina since the death penalty was reinstated in 1985.

Potential for Clemency

Bryant retains the option to seek clemency from the governor, a decision typically announced only minutes before an execution. Historically, no governor in South Carolina has granted clemency in the modern era of the death penalty.

Conclusion

As this case unfolds, it highlights ongoing debates around mental health and capital punishment. With the execution imminent, Bryant’s fate rests on the unwavering decision of the state’s judicial system.