State Supreme Court Sets Detroit Man’s Execution Date
WOODTV.com (Grand Rapids, Mi.), Mar. 14
COLUMBIA, S.C. The South Carolina State Supreme Court says a Detroit native is scheduled to die next month for the kidnapping and murder of a Charleston woman 12 years ago.
Joseph Gardner was convicted and sentenced to death in 1995 for killing of Melissa “Missi” McLauchlin. McLauchlin was raped, tortured, shot five times in the face and left to die by the side of a road in Summerville in 1992.
The court today set Gardner’s execution for April Eighth.
Police say Gardner and some other men made a New Year’s resolution to rape and kill a white woman as retribution for 400 years of oppression of black people. Authorities say Gardner was the trigger man.
Gardner has filed an appeal to the U-S District Court that may delay his execution.
The U-S Supreme Court turned down a previous appeal in March 1999.
