James Earl Reed

James Earl Reed was executed via the electric chair in South Carolina on June 20, 2008.

Reed was convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend's parents in 1996. Reed represented himself during his trial, arguing, in spite of a previous confession, that there was no physical evidence to place him at the scene of the murders.¹

Fast Facts

1. Age at death: 49
2. Convicted in 1996
3. Had confessed to the crimes
4. Later denied having committed the murders
5. Represented himself during his trial
6. First person executed via electric chair in the United States in almost a year¹
7. First electric chair execution in South Carolina since 2004¹

Last Minute Stay Request

A separate Supreme Court ruling on June 19, 2008, found that the state can refuse a defendant's right to represent himself if he is deemed mentally unfit.²

This ruling prompted U.S. District Court Judge Henry Floyd to file a motion for a stay of execution, pending further review of Reed's case. The motion was filed just minutes before the execution was scheduled to take place.²

The Supreme Court denied the motion for a stay and the execution took place as scheduled.

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