A man convicted for the heinous crime of raping and murdering a woman in the 1980s has been executed, marking the seventeenth execution in Florida this year.
Richard Barry Randolph, 63, met his fate through lethal injection at approximately 6 P.M. ET on November 20, 2025, at Florida State Prison in Raiford. He chose not to give any final words.
Randolph’s execution adds to a growing number of death row inmates executed in Florida this year. One of the prosecutors involved in his case has recently spoken out about the nature of the crime.
Randolph was convicted for the brutal assault and murder of Minnie Ruth McCollum when he was 27 years old. The incident took place at his former workplace, the Handy Way Convenience Store, in 1988.
During the crime, Randolph viciously attacked 62-year-old McCollum, using his hands and feet, and inflicted stab wounds with a knife while also strangling her. According to court documents, Randolph intermittently attempted to access the store’s safe, ultimately without success.
After the assault, Randolph raped McCollum and then escaped in his vehicle. Fortunately, three women witnessed his departure and alerted the authorities. They found McCollum clinging to life, but she succumbed to her injuries after falling into a coma in the hospital.
Retired prosecutor John Tanner spoke about the case and execution earlier this week, stating the victim was aware of the impending threat to her life.
He commented: “He was totally off the rails and so vicious, there was no humanity left in him.”
In an interview with USA Today, Tanner highlighted McCollum’s status as a cherished community member and noted the shocking nature of the prolonged violence she endured.
“She was kind of a public figure”, he said. “When you work in a small convenience store in Palatka, everyone gets to know everyone.
“They thought the world of her. We had people call in and say that she was just a wonderful person and that they hope we have him pay the penalty for what he’s done.”
Following Randolph’s execution, the victim’s family requested that Jordan Kirkland, a spokesman for the Department of Corrections, express their gratitude to Governor Ron DeSantis.