Richard Barry Randolph, aged 63, was executed in Florida on Thursday for the 1988 rape and murder of convenience store manager Minnie Ruth McCollum. The crime occurred when Randolph, then 27 years old, was caught attempting to break into the store’s safe by McCollum. He was convicted of murder, armed robbery, sexual battery, and grand theft in 1989.
After 37 years, Randolph was put to death by lethal injection without making a final statement. The execution proceeded smoothly, confirmed by DeSantis spokesperson Alex Lanfranconi. Court records revealed that Randolph assaulted, strangled, stabbed, and raped McCollum before fleeing the scene with her car.
Three witnesses called the police after seeing the chaos inside the store, leading to Randolph’s arrest while trying to cash in stolen lottery tickets. Despite multiple appeals, including denial from the U.S. Supreme Court, Randolph’s execution was carried out as scheduled.