TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Richard Barry Randolph, a 63-year-old man convicted of raping and brutally murdering his former manager at a Florida convenience store, is set to be executed on November 20, 2025, following the signing of a death warrant by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis. This move reflects DeSantis's unprecedented pace for executions in the state, with Randolph's case marking the 17th execution scheduled in Florida for the year 2025. DeSantis's record of executions surpasses any Florida governor since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976, previously held by the eight executions carried out in 2014.
The death warrant for Randolph was signed just a week prior to the scheduled execution of another convicted murderer, Norman Mearle Grim Jr., on October 28. Additionally, Bryan Fredrick Jennings is also set for execution on November 13, demonstrating a significant increase in the number of death sentences being carried out under DeSantis's administration.
Randolph was sentenced to death in 1989 after being found guilty of several heinous crimes, including murder, armed robbery, sexual battery, and grand theft. The events leading to his conviction unfolded in August 1988 at the Handy-Way convenience store in Palatka, Florida, where he had once worked. Randolph attempted to break into a safe and was confronted by the store manager, Minnie Ruth McCollum. In a violent struggle, he beat, strangled, stabbed, and raped McCollum before escaping in her car.
Witnesses to the crime observed Randolph fleeing the premises and alerted law enforcement, who arrived to find McCollum still alive but in critical condition. She was transported to a hospital, where she ultimately succumbed to severe brain injuries six days later.
Randolph's capture occurred shortly after the attack at a grocery store in Jacksonville, where he was attempting to borrow money and cash in lottery tickets he had stolen from the convenience store. During the investigation, he admitted to the assault and led deputies to the bloody clothing he had discarded after the crime.
Randolph's legal team is preparing to file appeals with both the Florida Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court, as they challenge the death warrant and the validity of the convictions. The case highlights ongoing debates surrounding the death penalty in the United States, particularly in Florida, which has seen an upsurge in capital punishment cases under the current administration.
As of now, 39 executions have taken place in the U.S. in 2025, with Florida notably leading this charge due to the numerous death warrants being signed by DeSantis. The state's most recent execution involved Samuel Lee Smithers, who was executed via lethal injection on October 14 after being convicted of murdering two women, whose bodies were discovered in a rural pond.
