Florida killer, rapist Loran Kentsley Cole executed by lethal injection

Aug. 29 (UPI) -- Convicted murderer, kidnapper and rapist Loran Kenstley Cole was executed by lethal injection Thursday at Florida State Prison, officials announced.

The death sentence against Cole was carried out at 6:15 p.m. EDT in the Raiford, Fla., facility, the Florida Department of Corrections said in a brief statement .

When asked if he had any last words, Cole said, "no, sir," the Tallahassee Democrat reported .

After the injection, his body appeared to tremble for several minutes as he lay strapped to the gurney in front of 19 witnesses, two guards, four Corrections Department communications staff members and seven journalists, the newspaper said.

Cole was convicted of killing John Edwards , an 18-year-old Florida State University student, in 1994.

Cole pretended to help Edwards and his 21-year-old sister Pam at a campsite. Cole left the site and returned with another man he claimed was his brother.

Cole attacked Pam Edwards while the four walked, handcuffing her and pushing her to the ground. John Edwards fought back but was overcome.

The other man took Pam Edwards away from the area and that's when Cole killed John Edwards, cutting his throat and bashing his head.

Pam Edwards was raped and left tied to two trees, where she freed herself the next morning.

Cole was the first inmate executed in Florida this year and the 13th put to death in the nation in 2024.

Cole had said he shouldn't be convicted of his crimes because he endured " horrific abuse " at the state-run reform school Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys before it was eventually shut down.

He said the abuse included being raped, beaten regularly and having both legs broken by staff at the reform school after he made an escape attempt.

For years, Cole repeatedly challenged his conviction and blamed the crimes on his co-defendant.