The final meal of a death row inmate was disclosed after his execution by a seldom-used method, marking the third time this approach has been employed following a 15-year hiatus.
Stephen Bryant was executed on November 14 for the murder of three individuals over two decades ago.
Bryant received his sentence for the 2004 killings of Willard Tietjen, 62, Clifton Gainey, 36, and Christopher Burgess, 35, which unfolded over five days in South Carolina.
After confessing to the three murders in 2008, he spent 17 years on death row.
Reports indicate that Bryant wrote the message ‘catch me if u can’ in blood on the wall of one of his victim’s homes to taunt authorities.
He elected to die by firing squad when his lawyers were unable to prevent the execution.
According to the Associated Press, three prison staff members carried out the execution after placing a hood over his head and a target on his heart.
Inmates facing execution are allowed to choose their final meal, often opting for diverse and sometimes unexpected selections.
Considering it would be your last meal, you might select an array of dishes that stand out.
Bryant chose a seafood feast with various accompaniments.
His reported meal included a spicy mixed seafood stir-fry, fried fish over rice, egg rolls, stuffed shrimp, two candy bars, and German chocolate cake for dessert, as reported by the Independent.
Bryant’s attorney, Bo King, argued that Bryant’s troubled upbringing should have been taken into account during sentencing.
King highlighted that Bryant suffered from a genetic disorder and had endured physical and sexual abuse during his childhood.
King further claimed that Bryant’s mother’s heavy drinking during pregnancy caused permanent harm to his body and brain, noting that the judge did not have the opportunity to consider his brain damage.
Following Bryant’s execution, King released a statement: “Tonight, South Carolina gave Mr. Bryant his final wounds in a lifetime of suffering.
“Mr. Bryant’s impairments left him unable to endure the tormenting memories of his childhood.
“When these traumas pushed him to mental collapse, he pleaded for professional help. He was refused care by our broken mental health system because he could not afford the fee of $75.
“Mr. Bryant’s final wish was that no other person in need of aid face that rejection. That is consistent with the man we knew, who showed grace and courage in forgiving his family and great love for those in and outside of his prison. We will remember his unlikely friendships, his fierce protectiveness, and his love for nature, the water, and the world.”