A convicted double murderer who brutally killed the parents of his ex-girlfriend made a chilling statement before facing his execution on death row.
Brad Keith Sigmon, aged 67, was put to death by a firing squad in South Carolina, USA, following the tragic slayings. He invaded the residence of David and Gladys Larke in Greenville County after their daughter, Rebecca Barbare, ended their relationship. The couple had been together for about three years, residing in a trailer park adjacent to David and Gladys’ home. After a night of alcohol and crack cocaine, Sigmon confided in a friend his intention to retaliate against Rebecca for leaving him and harm her parents, as per court records.
Equipped with a baseball bat, he viciously assaulted both parents, delivering nine blows to each of their heads during the 2001 murders. During the 2002 trial, it was revealed that David’s skull was severely fractured. Sigmon also stole David’s firearm and attempted to abduct Rebecca, but she escaped as he fired shots in her direction.
He fled the scene, triggering an 11-day manhunt that culminated in Tennessee. Sigmon received his sentence in 2002 and languished on death row until early March 2025. He selected a firing squad over the electric chair due to fears of being burned alive, as per his attorney.
On the day of his execution, March 8, 2025, Sigmon was secured in a chair within the South Carolina Department of Corrections’ death chamber. His head was covered with a hood, a target was placed on his chest, and a curtain shielded the three volunteer riflemen positioned less than fifteen feet away. A basin was readied beneath the chair to collect any spilled blood.
Moments before the 6:05 pm shots were fired, Sigmon’s final words were recited by his lawyer. He expressed a message of love and urged fellow Christians to advocate against the death penalty, highlighting his past ignorance regarding the concept of “an eye for an eye.” Three members of the Larke family, along with Sigmon’s spiritual advisor, witnessed the execution. Sigmon exhibited movement after being shot, and .308 Winchester Tap Urban bullets were employed in the procedure, sparking ongoing debates among experts about the level of pain inflicted on the recipient.
