Florida Set to Execute Man Convicted in 1988 Murder Case
On Thursday evening, Florida State Prison near Starke is preparing to carry out the execution of Richard Barry Randolph. Convicted in the brutal 1988 murder of a convenience store manager, the 63-year-old Randolph will receive a lethal injection at 6 p.m.
Randolph’s conviction stems from a series of violent crimes committed in Palatka, Florida, including murder, armed robbery, sexual battery, and grand theft. The decision to execute him in 2025 marks Florida’s 17th execution this year, setting a new state record.
According to court documents, Randolph attempted to access the safe at the Handy-Way convenience store, where he had previously been employed. During the attempt, he was confronted by manager Minnie Ruth McCollum. The encounter escalated into a violent struggle, resulting in McCollum being beaten, strangled, stabbed, and raped. Randolph fled the scene in McCollum’s car.
Witnesses reported the incident to authorities, noticing the disarray within the store. A deputy discovered McCollum still alive but in a coma; she succumbed to her injuries six days later. Investigators arrested Randolph at a Jacksonville grocery store, where he was attempting to cash in stolen lottery tickets. He confessed to the crime and led detectives to evidence, including bloody clothes.
The Florida Supreme Court recently denied Randolph’s appeals, which claimed a lower court denied him access to records and that his defense acted without his consent. A final appeal remains pending before the U.S. Supreme Court.
To date, 43 men have been executed in the U.S. in 2025, with Florida accounting for the highest number. Following Florida are Alabama, South Carolina, and Texas, each with five executions. Two additional executions are slated for Florida next month under orders from Governor Ron DeSantis.
Scheduled for December are Mark Allen Geralds on the 9th, and Frank Athen Walls on the 18th. Florida’s execution method involves a three-drug cocktail, as per the state’s Department of Corrections.
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