Jackson, MS – Charles Crawford, 59, is scheduled for execution Wednesday evening at the Mississippi State Penitentiary in Parchman after being convicted of kidnapping, raping, and murdering 20-year-old Kristy Ray in 1993. The lethal injection marks a significant moment in Crawford’s 30-year stay on death row.
The Crime and Conviction
Crawford was convicted of abducting Kristy Ray from her parents’ home in Tippah County, Mississippi, on January 29, 1993. Ray’s mother discovered her daughter’s car was missing, and a ransom note was left behind. A second ransom note was later found in the attic of Crawford’s former father-in-law’s house, leading law enforcement to suspect him.
Crawford was arrested the following day. Initially, he claimed to be returning from a hunting trip. However, Crawford later told authorities he had blacked out and had no memory of killing Ray.
This was not Crawford’s first criminal conviction. Just prior to his arrest for Ray’s murder, he was days away from trial for the 1991 rape of a 17-year-old girl, during which he also allegedly assaulted the girl’s friend with a hammer. These previous convictions were cited as an aggravating circumstance in Crawford’s capital murder trial for Ray’s death, ultimately leading to his death sentence.
Legal Appeals and Ongoing Efforts for a New Trial
For over three decades, Crawford has fought to overturn his death sentence. Currently, his attorneys are appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing that Crawford’s Sixth Amendment rights were violated during his 1994 trial. They claim his lawyers admitted his guilt and pursued an insanity defense against his wishes.
Krissy Nobile, director of the Mississippi Office of Capital Post-Conviction Relief, who represents Crawford, said, “It’s almost like he didn’t even get the chance to have innocent or guilty matter because his attorney just overrode his wishes from the outset.”
However, the Mississippi Supreme Court dismissed this appeal in September, stating that Crawford should have raised the issue earlier and failed to provide enough justification for retroactive application of a 2018 Supreme Court ruling regarding attorney-client decisions. Despite these setbacks, Crawford has maintained faith in God and remains resolute.
Crawford’s Character on Death Row
Despite his convictions, Crawford is seen as a respected and uplifting figure by those around him on death row. Nobile described him as an advocate for fellow inmates, particularly those facing mental health struggles or requiring medical attention.
The Execution and Its Context
Crawford’s execution is part of an increasing number of executions nationwide. Mississippi’s planned lethal injection is scheduled to take place just two days after executions in Florida and Missouri, bringing the total number of executions in the U.S. this year to 37. The other executions involved Samuel Lee Smithers in Florida for the 1996 double murder of two women and Lance Shockley in Missouri for fatally shooting a state trooper in 2005.
Family Impact and Reflection
The Associated Press reached out to Ray’s relatives but received no response. Crawford also did not respond to requests for comment, adding to the silence surrounding the case from the perspective of the victim’s family.
As the execution draws nearer, the question of justice for Kristy Ray remains, with some continuing to grapple with the implications of the death penalty, while others focus on the devastating loss of a young life.
Call to Action
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