Richard Gerald Jordan, aged 79, is poised to face execution in Mississippi today, marking the end of nearly five decades on death row. A Vietnam veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, Jordan was convicted of kidnapping and murdering Edwina Marter, a bank loan officer’s wife, in 1976 as part of a ransom scheme. This execution follows the recent denial of his appeals by the US Supreme Court.
Jordan’s case has drawn attention not only for its length but also due to his claims regarding the inhumane nature of Mississippi’s three-drug execution protocol, which he, along with others on death row, is currently challenging in court. Mississipi’s death row has not seen a significant number of executions in recent years, with Jordan set to be only the third individual executed in the state during the past decade, following the most recent execution in December 2022.
Before his execution, Jordan spent time with family, lawyers, and spiritual advisers, with reports indicating that family members were given access to him until just before his final meal. His conviction stemmed from the brutal kidnapping and murder of Marter, who was a mother of two, after Jordan called her husband under the guise of a bank matter. Following her abduction, he demanded ransom before tragically taking her life and hiding her body.
Eric Marter, Edwina’s son, expressed that he and his family would not attend the execution, stating, “It should have happened a long time ago,” reflecting a sentiment of closure after decades of legal proceedings that included four trials and numerous appeals. He and other family members have pointed out the necessity of punishment for Jordan’s crime.
Despite arguments from Jordan’s lawyers regarding the lack of adequate mental health assessments during his trial, which they claimed affected the jury’s understanding of his military experiences and psychological state, these claims were ultimately dismissed by the Supreme Court. A recent petition for clemency submitted to Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves highlighted how Jordan’s combat experiences in Vietnam could have contributed to his actions, but the request was denied.
In reflection, Eric Marter rejected the notion that Jordan’s PTSD should mitigate his culpability, insisting that his mother’s murder was motivated solely by greed. As Jordan’s execution approaches, it signifies the culmination of a long and contentious legal journey, underscoring ongoing debates around mental health, military trauma, and justice in capital cases.