Stephen Bryant Executed by Firing Squad; Final Meal Included Egg Rolls and German Chocolate Cake

Stephen Bryant Executed by Firing Squad in South Carolina

Stephen Bryant, 44, was executed by firing squad on Friday, Nov. 14, at 6:05 p.m. local time at the Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia, South Carolina, authorities said. Bryant had chosen the firing squad over the state's other legal options: lethal injection and electrocution, according to the Associated Press.

Final Meal and Witnesses

For his final meal, Bryant requested a mixed seafood stir-fry, fried fish over rice, egg rolls, stuffed shrimp, two candy bars and a slice of German chocolate cake, the AP reported. The execution was carried out by three prison employees and observed by 10 witnesses, including several family members of the victims. Bryant made no final statement before he was pronounced dead.

Crimes and Conviction

Bryant pleaded guilty in 2008 to three murders that took place during a week-long burglary and killing spree in rural Sumter County in the fall of 2004. Prosecutors say Bryant was 23 at the time of the crimes. The victims were identified as Clifton Gainey, 36; Willard Tietjen, 62; and Chris Burgess, 35.

Authorities say Bryant first killed coworker Clifton Gainey on Oct. 9, 2004, then burglarized Gainey’s home. Two days later he fatally shot Willard Tietjen in his home; investigators reported that Bryant left messages written in blood on a wall in Tietjen’s house, including the note: “Victim number four in two weeks, catch me if you can.” Officials also say Bryant answered Tietjen’s phone and told family members the man was dead. Two days after Tietjen’s murder, Bryant killed Chris Burgess after meeting him at a convenience store.

Mental Health and Final Statement from Defense

Defense attorneys told the court that Bryant had sought mental-health counseling before the killings, citing repeated re-experiencing of alleged childhood sexual abuse, according to court records reported by local outlets. In a statement, Bryant’s lawyer Bo King said his client’s final wish was that no one be denied access to mental-health care because they could not afford it. King also described Bryant as showing "grace and courage" in forgiving his family and said Bryant loved nature and formed unlikely friendships while incarcerated.

Context

State reporting indicated Bryant was the third person executed by firing squad in South Carolina this year and the seventh person executed in the state overall during the same period. Sources for this account include the Associated Press and local reporting from The Post and Courier and the Daily Gazette.

Note: This article summarizes reporting from the Associated Press and local South Carolina outlets and aims to present the facts with sensitivity to victims and readers.