A Florida man, Loran Cole, was executed on Thursday for the brutal murder of a college freshman and the rape of the victim’s older sister while they were camping in a national forest 30 years ago. Cole, 57, received a lethal injection and was pronounced dead at 6:15 p.m. at Florida State Prison for the 1994 killing of an 18-year-old student. In addition to the death sentence, Cole had been serving two life sentences for rape, told CNN.
When asked if he had any final words, Cole responded, “No sir.” As the procedure began around 6 p.m., Cole briefly looked up at a witness in the front row. Moments later, he began taking deep breaths, with his cheeks puffing out. His body trembled briefly before the warden shook him and called his name. Five minutes into the procedure, Cole appeared to stop breathing and was declared dead.
The crime occurred when Cole and his friend, William Paul, befriended two college students at the Ocala National Forest, according to court records. The two men had been talking with the siblings around a campfire before offering to take them to see a nearby pond. Once away from the campsite, Cole and Paul attacked the victims, robbing them.
The 18-year-old brother, who was a student at Florida State University, was beaten, had his throat slit, and was left in the forest. His sister, then a 21-year-old senior at Eckerd College, was taken back to the campsite, where Cole tied her up and raped her. She was left tied to a tree overnight and raped again the following day. The next day, she managed to free herself and flagged down a driver for help. Police later found her brother’s body lying face down in the forest.
Both Cole and Paul were convicted of first-degree murder. While Cole received the death penalty, Paul was sentenced to life in prison.
Although the victims’ parents did not attend the execution, they released a statement through corrections officials afterward. They expressed how the murder of their son and the assault on their daughter had shattered their lives, but they also highlighted their daughter’s strength and resilience. “Though invisible to others, our daughter bears internal scars that will never go away. She battled years of fear, pain, and sorrow,” the statement read. “She is our hero.” The statement concluded with a lack of empathy for Cole, saying, “We are void of feelings and empathy for Mr. Cole. He placed himself into this arena. He does not deserve mercy.”
Governor Ron DeSantis signed the death warrant for Cole last month. This execution was the first in Florida since Michael Zack was put to death last October for a 1996 murder.
In the hours leading up to his execution, Cole was described as “compliant” by Department of Corrections officials. He had two visitors, including his son. The U.S. Supreme Court denied Cole’s final appeal earlier on Thursday.
Cole’s lawyers had sought a stay of execution, arguing that he was a victim of abuse at a state-run reform school, which has since been shut down, and that he suffered from mental illness, brain damage, and Parkinson’s disease. However, their appeal was ultimately unsuccessful.