753:
the throat of John
Edwards and later raped his sister. Edwards's sister, Pam Edwards, testified in court that she grew suspicious as she heard Paul and Cole using new names with each other and behaved differently on the trail from before at the campsite. She testified that she tried to leave by taking a different path before Cole grabbed her from behind and slammed her down the ground, and her brother was also down moments later after he hit Paul. Pam said she saw the men tying up her brother and while Paul was leading her away, she heard her brother grunting as though he was being assaulted, with Cole screaming why did Edwards hit his "brother" (referring to Paul). A serologist Karen Barnes testified that she found bloodstains on the knife, which matched Edwards's DNA, but Cole's lawyers attempted to argue that the knife was found on Paul when the arrest of both men was made, meaning that Cole did not slit the throat of Edwards.
799:
it was unsafe to uphold either the death sentence or murder conviction, as the evidence implicating Cole in the murder was circumstantial and there was undue reliance on the testimony of
Edwards's sister, who was the sole survivor in this case, to determine the guilt of Cole, as there were risks of doing so given the rate of clarity and accuracy of her recollection and memories in this case. The prosecution, however, argued that regardless of the results, it was undisputed that Cole indeed raped Edwards's sister and argued that his murder conviction and death sentence were safe to affirm. The lower courts, as well as the Supreme Court of Florida, dismissed the appeal of Cole in relation to the DNA testing matter, after they found that any post-conviction DNA testing granted would not have prove that Cole was not guilty of murder or rape, and as corroborated by his admission to rape.
883:
Justice Hodges in the lower courts of Marion County, as the judge rejected this evidence as "untimely" and without merit because Cole chose to reveal it right after the signing of his death warrant despite having a long window of opportunity to raise it much earlier before this present stage, and it was mere speculation that he might suffer because of his involuntary body movements, in addition to his failure of showing "that medical personnel have previously had problems finding a vein in his arm or that he has previously suffered pain during the placement of an intravenous line".
478:, and although he stopped doing so at one point after he met his first girlfriend, he fell back into his old habits after they broke up. Paul dropped out of school at 11th grade as a result of his drug addiction. Paul went to work at a nursing home, where his mother also worked, but he spent 18 months on this job and left after he "got into trouble", according to his mother, who believed her son's drug addiction was the main cause of his problems and legal troubles. Paul went to Georgia after this, although he returned to Florida and would commit the murder sometime after.
930:
death sentence, expressing that Cole did not deserve mercy when he mercilessly killed their son and raped their daughter, who went on to become a "teacher, professor, wife and mother". Before the execution of Cole, the friends of
Edwards spoke up in the media, stating that they still remembered and missed Edwards, for he was a good friend with a kind soul. Many of them stated that the news of Cole's scheduled execution was a signal that the painful chapter of losing Edwards was coming to an end and the beginning of closure.
867:, a reform school for troubled youths, and Cole's traumatic experiences were not being raised during his trial as factors that would have spared him the death sentence and also enable the jury to duly consider before deciding on his sentence at an earlier stage. However, the prosecution argued that these claims were already considered during his previous appeals from the past few years and were hardly new, and they were not being accepted by the courts in each and every past hearing regarding this matter.
926:, ice cream and a soda before his death sentence was carried out. Both Cole's 36-year-old son and a female pen pal paid him a last visit prior to the execution. Cole's son described the execution of his father as a nightmare and he said that bidding good bye to his father, whom he barely knew throughout his life, was the hardest thing for him to do. Another source revealed that during his son's last prison visit before he was put to death, Cole shared his final meal with his son and the pen pal.
225:
lent a helping hand to get the siblings settled. The man, who introduced himself as "Kevin", befriended the siblings and he left the campsite briefly before he returned with another man while the siblings were eating dinner, and introduced his companion as his brother. Kevin and his brother sat with the
Edwards siblings around the campfire until 10.45pm, when the four decided to leave and take a walk to the pond to photograph alligators. The four walked for a while but never found the pond.
706:, neglecting him and his sisters. According to Cole's two step-sisters Ann Marie Powers and Andrea Jane Headlee, Cole was sent to foster care more than once in his childhood and his mother had gone to prison, and that Cole's father would get violent whenever he became intoxicated with alcohol and would have physical altercations with his wife during arguments. At the time of his arrest, Cole was divorced with one son, who resided in
757:
it belonged to his new boss, she found a receipt with
Edwards's name on it inside the car, and subsequently put two and two together when she saw the murder of Edwards hitting the news. Gamble stated that in order to find out the truth, she visited Cole several times and after doing so, she learnt from Cole that he raped Edwards's sister and he also slit Edwards's throat, but he was uncertain on how Edwards died.
903:
seven years and his petition was a tactical ploy to delay the death sentence, as he never raised such claims prior to the signing of his death warrant, and no hindrance had been made for him to pursue this in any appeal he should have made before the death warrant was finalized. The U.S. Supreme Court rejected the appeal of Cole on the morning of August 29, 2024, hours before he was slated to be executed.
525:
929:
After the execution of Cole, the late John
Edwards's parents Timothy and Victoria Edwards released a media statement, stating that the murder of their son back in 1994 was "horrendous" and "senseless" and it shattered the family. Edwards's parents did not agree with the possibility of reducing Cole's
902:
In response to Cole's petition to the U.S. Supreme Court, state lawyers representing
Florida argued that Cole's execution should not be halted on the grounds of Parkinson's disease. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody stated that Cole had known about his symptoms of Parkinson's disease for at least
798:
In late 2003, Cole filed an appeal for post-conviction DNA testing, claiming that the DNA evidence could show that he was not the only one who raped
Edwards's sister and that he was not the real killer of the case but Paul, who was still serving a life term at that point. His counsel also argued that
752:
During the trial, which was presided by a 12-member jury, the prosecution argued that both Cole and his accomplice
William Paul had deliberately approached the Edwards siblings, planning to rob them under the pretext of befriending the siblings, before Cole used a wood and brass folding knife to slit
717:, where he reportedly underwent severe physical and sexual abuse by the staff during his six-month stay. Regularly, Cole was beaten at least twice a week and on one occasion, he was raped by a guard, and on another occasion, Cole had both of his legs broken by staff after trying to escape the school.
249:
were shocked to hear about his murder as they remembered him as a good-looking, fun person who loved athletics and aspired to be a chemical engineer. Edwards's father
Timothy Edwards also described his son as the best child he could get in the world, and the Edwards family also set up a trust fund in
898:
to delay his execution, and it also centered on the same grounds of appeal he raised before the Florida Supreme Court. Also, a group of death penalty opponents banded together to appeal to the governor to grant clemency to Cole based on the fact that he was a victim of abuse at the Dozier School and
756:
Mary Gamble, another prosecution witness who had a one-night stand with Cole and lived with him in the past, testified that Cole admitted to her about raping a woman and murdering a man, who was none other than Edwards. She recalled that Cole and Paul drove a car to her house, and while Cole claimed
748:
On September 18, 1995, a jury selection commenced before the trial of Loran Cole, which was scheduled to begin in the following week. A motion from Cole's lawyer Don Gleason to hold separate trials for the murder charge and lesser charges of rape, abduction and robbery was denied. Cole's trial began
739:
and Cole being assessed for having a low risk of re-offending. This decision was controversial given the violent nature of the murder, which Cole committed just three years after his release and it was realized that without Cole's early release, the murder of Edwards would never have happened in the
486:
On June 30, 1995, Paul pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree of murder, two armed robbery charges and two kidnapping charges. With his plea of guilt and correspondence between the prosecution and defence, the death penalty was taken off the table in Paul's case and he was given five concurrent
258:
After the police report was lodged, the police released composite sketches of the two killers and appealed for witnesses to assist in investigations. After receiving a tip-off from a man who saw two men resembling the police sketches of the suspects in the Ocala area, the police were able to arrest
232:
Meanwhile, Edwards's sister was taken back to the campsite by her captors, and Kevin threatened to kill her if she did not have sexual intercourse with him, and Edwards's sister was raped thereafter by Kevin. The next day, Edwards's sister was raped a second time before she was gagged and tied to a
224:
student, met in Ocala for a camping trip. Edwards had driven from Tallahassee while his sister arrived from St. Petersburg at their meet-up point, and they both headed to Ocala National Forest. While they were setting up camp in the Hopkins Prairie, the Edwards siblings met a man who stopped by and
772:
formally sentenced Cole to death for murdering Edwards. Cole was simultaneously sentenced to life in prison for the other offences he committed. Cole's defence counsel reportedly urged the judge to consider Cole's troubled childhood during sentencing, but Justice Swigert aligned with the stance of
870:
On August 8, 2024, Marion County Circuit Judge Robert Hodges ruled that the arguments of Cole's lawyers should be rejected, since the evidence was not new and they were already being rejected in prior appeals before this stage. He additionally rejected that a new law compensating victims of abuse
236:
Two days after the attack, Edwards's sister was able to free herself by chewing through the rope, and tried to search for her brother but failed to find him. She then flagged down a motorist, who helped her to make a police report. Later on that same day, the body of John Edwards was found by law
31:
882:
and his symptoms of involuntary movements would affect the placement of intravenous lines necessary in carrying out his death sentence, and it would lead to a "substantial risk of illness by injury and needless suffering". However, this argument was already raised in their previous appeal before
491:
for all the charges he was convicted of. The family of Edwards accepted this plea deal, since it prevented his sister from having to testify in two separate trials about how she was raped. The prosecution also agreed that Paul did not directly kill Edwards despite being an accomplice to murder.
228:
At one point during the walk itself, Kevin jumped upon Edwards's 21-year-old sister, handcuffed her and threw her onto the ground. Edwards retaliated by attacking Paul after this, but he was overpowered by both Kevin and his brother, and he was thrown onto the ground next to his sister. Kevin's
760:
On September 29, 1995, a 12-member jury found Cole guilty of all seven charges, mainly one count of murder, two counts of kidnapping, two counts of rape and two counts of armed robbery. The day after Cole's conviction, the same jury unanimously recommended that Cole should be given the
720:
Prior to the murder of John Edwards in 1994, Cole had a criminal record of offences from 1985 to 1991 and arrested for a total of 13 times. Among these antecedents, Cole was involved in three cases of theft and burglary in 1986 and jailed for these above offences. Cole was given a
327:
915:. John Edwards's family reportedly did not attend the execution of Cole. When asked if he wanted to make a final statement, Cole declined, stating his last words: "No, sir". Cole was pronounced dead at 6:15 p.m., about 15 minutes after he was administered with the drugs.
844:
Cole was reportedly the first inmate from Florida with his execution date set in 2024 and would be the ninth person slated for execution during DeSantis's tenure as governor of Florida; the last execution in Florida occurred on October 3, 2023, when 54-year-old
275:
who was actually not Cole's brother and therefore unrelated to him by blood. Furthermore, apart from the motive of robbery, police uncovered that Cole was previously charged and convicted between 1985 and 1991 for various offences, and he was wanted in
280:
on a 1990 counterfeiting charge, while Paul had no previous antecedents. Marion Sheriff Ken Ergle condemned the crime in a media statement pertaining to the men's capture, stating that they were "damnable animals" for committing such horrific crimes.
296:
Both Paul and Cole were detained without bail at Marion County Jail in Ocala. The two men allegedly tried to escape from judicial custody in May 1994, and were seen digging at mortar around the cinder blocks in their cells, but they denied doing so.
229:
brother took Edwards's sister up the path while Kevin stayed back with 18-year-old John Edwards, slashing his throat and battering him severely on the head. Edwards died that night as a result of the neck wound and skull fractures he sustained.
284:
Both Cole and Paul were charged with one count of murder, two counts of kidnapping, two counts of armed robbery and two counts of rape. If found guilty of the most serious charge of first-degree murder, both Cole and Paul would either be
495:
During his sentencing, it was decreed that Paul would not be eligible for parole until he completed a minimum period of 25 years behind bars, based on the plea bargain. As of 2024, Paul remains incarcerated at
862:
After Cole's death warrant was issued, his lawyers filed appeals with hopes of staving off his upcoming execution. They raised the fact that since his stay at the age of 17, Cole was a victim of abuse at the
776:
Cole was one of the three convicted murderers from Marion County sent to death row by Justice Swigert during his time on the bench from 1974 to 2004. Justice Swigert died at the age of 77 in 2014.
933:
Cole was the first death row prisoner from Florida, as well as the 13th convict in the U.S. to be executed during the year of 2024. Cole’s execution was the 106th execution in Florida since the
702:
on November 11, 1966. Cole reportedly had an unhappy childhood full of both physical and emotional abuse, and his parents Don and Ann Cole were reportedly addicted to alcohol and
2111:
1011:
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enforcement officers. At the time of his death, Edwards was a chemical engineering major in his first year of college and his parents, who were in the military, were based in
1895:
1098:
2057:
2327:
2021:
849:
was executed for murdering two women in 1996. After the execution date was set, the Florida Supreme Court has issued an order to expedite all proceedings in the case.
1062:
177:
Out of the two, Paul pleaded guilty to the murder, kidnapping and robbery charges, a decision that ultimately spared him the death sentence, and he was sentenced to
2039:
233:
tree by both Kevin and his brother, before they took off in one of the sibling's cars. They also stole the siblings' jewelry, money, checkbooks and credit cards.
2445:
1355:
2093:
1985:
961:
769:
2219:
1705:
2003:
1967:
2420:
1949:
1931:
814:
260:
1805:
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2255:
2129:
2075:
1406:
1296:
830:
On July 29, 2024, 30 years and five months after he murdered John Edwards, 57-year-old Loran Kenstley Cole was scheduled to be put to death via
2435:
2363:
2183:
1787:
185:
after a state jury found him guilty of murdering Edwards and other charges that include the rape of Edwards's sister. Cole was executed by
2237:
471:
2410:
2345:
1823:
740:
first place. Since then, there were public calls against releasing dangerous offenders too early before they complete their sentences.
1841:
806:(unlawful detention), but his motions were all thrown out by the courts, which all rejected his reasons to avoid the death sentence.
735:-year jail term for grand theft in 1991 but he was released on parole after serving only one year out of his sentence, partly due to
1877:
1859:
1575:
736:
1197:
1671:
205:
On February 18, 1994, a brother-sister pair, John Timothy Edwards and his sister Pam Edwards, were attacked at a camping site in
1769:
1542:
1446:"More than 50,000 Floridians have signed a petition that would require prisoners serve at least 85 percent of their sentences".
2415:
1913:
636:
488:
401:
290:
178:
1080:
1491:
1044:
1373:
2430:
497:
451:
1524:
1116:
802:
Since 2004, for more than a decade until 2018, Cole would go on filing motions to vacate his death sentence or writs of
2165:
1638:
956:
951:
1278:
166:(John T. Edwards), was murdered by the same two perpetrators of the attack. During the same month, the two killers,
1337:
2381:
2201:
784:
After the end of his trial, Loran Kenstley Cole appealed against his conviction and sentence all the way to the
2291:
1215:
749:
on September 26, 1995. The prosecution had earlier confirmed they would be seeking the death penalty for Cole.
1179:
946:
762:
628:
286:
182:
835:
2292:"Death row inmate had banquet of pizza and M&Ms with son before execution for rape and murder horror"
795:) to lose their respective appeals in January 2003 when the state Supreme Court rejected their appeals.
2425:
2309:
162:, United States. The 21-year-old sister was raped twice by the attackers, but the 18-year-old brother,
2238:"Florida executes man convicted of killing college student, raping victim's sister in national forest"
2202:"Florida executes man convicted of killing college student, raping victim's sister in national forest"
467:. Paul, who was an only child, reportedly loved camping and would collect wildflowers for his mother.
2058:"Florida Supreme Court refuses to block execution of inmate convicted in 1994 murder of FSU student"
2405:
1741:
1692:
1324:
785:
217:
111:
2382:"Death row inmate Loran Cole who raped and murdered students as they camped in woods put to death"
2004:"Florida Death Row Inmate Loran Cole's Attorneys Fight Execution, Appeals To State Supreme Court"
864:
714:
1878:"August execution date set for Florida man involved in 1994 killing and rape in national forest"
1860:"August execution date set for Florida man involved in 1994 killing and rape in national forest"
1081:"August execution date set for Florida man involved in 1994 killing and rape in national forest"
698:
Loran Kenstley Cole (Loran K. Cole), alias Laran Cole, K. C. Cole and David Bryant, was born in
879:
846:
810:
2346:"'A good, kind soul': Friends remember murdered Florida fraternity brother as execution nears"
1950:"Florida Gov. DeSantis Signs Death Warrant For Inmate Convicted In 1994 Murder Of FSU Student"
474:, he was originally a good student, but when he was in seventh grade, Paul became addicted to
911:
On August 29, 2024, 57-year-old Loran Kenstley Cole was put to death via lethal injection at
875:
672:
437:
206:
155:
77:
2256:"Florida executes Loran Cole in brutal murder of teenage FSU student whose sister was raped"
2022:"Parkinson's disease argued to prevent execution of man who murdered Florida State student"
912:
686:
567:
464:
353:
272:
190:
1099:"Ocala National Forest murder from 1994: Gov. DeSantis signs death warrant for Loran Cole"
181:. On the other hand, Cole, who was deemed to have played a bigger role in the murder, was
154:
On February 18, 1994, a brother-sister pair were attacked by two men at a camping site in
8:
1914:"Man who killed 2 women he met a day apart in north Florida bars in 1996 is put to death"
1896:"First DeSantis death warrant of 2024 shows randomness of capital punishment in Florida"
1356:"Florida Death Row inmate says he shouldn't be executed because he was abused at school"
1063:"DeSantis signs death warrant for man convicted in 1994 murder of Florida State student"
899:
it shaped him into who he was today, and urged for mercy to take priority in this case.
2076:"A Florida man set to be executed this week appeals to the US Supreme Court for a stay"
934:
895:
886:
On August 23, 2024, the Florida Supreme Court unanimously rejected the appeal of Cole.
238:
2040:"Florida Supreme Court won't block execution of man convicted in FSU student's murder"
878:. Cole's lawyers argued before the Supreme Court that their client was diagnosed with
463:
William Christopher Paul (William C. Paul), who was born on April 19, 1973, came from
250:
the name of Edwards, and hoped to set up a scholarship with the money from the fund.
16:
1994 murder of a 18-year-old college student in Ocala National Forest, Florida, U.S.
2310:"Man who murdered FSU student 30 years ago executed by lethal injection in Florida"
831:
584:
571:
271:, while Kevin's accomplice was 20-year-old William Christopher Paul, a resident of
268:
194:
186:
2328:"'He does not deserve mercy': Loran Cole executed for 1994 killing of FSU student"
2273:
703:
246:
1986:"Judge rejects Dozier abuse as reason to halt execution of FSU student's killer"
788:, but the appeals were dismissed, and his death sentence was finalized in 1998.
2094:"Florida man set to be executed this week appeals to US Supreme Court for stay"
792:
221:
2147:
2112:"Push grows to spare convicted killer once confined to troubled Dozier School"
2399:
2220:"Florida executes man convicted of 1994 killing of college student in forest"
2148:"Florida argues execution shouldn't be stayed for man's Parkinson's symptoms"
1968:"Florida inmate cites Dozier abuse as he argues to vacate his death sentence"
803:
791:
Cole was one of the four death row inmates (the others include serial killer
773:
the prosecution, who all described Cole as a "cold and indifferent killer".
1012:"After 30 years on death row, Loran Cole executed for FSU student's murder"
838:
2364:"Florida killer, rapist Loran Kentsley Cole executed by lethal injection"
2166:"Prisoner With Parkinson's Is Executed After Supreme Court Paves The Way"
923:
604:
383:
277:
174:, were arrested and charged with kidnapping, robbery, rape and murder.
30:
524:
2184:"Florida to execute man convicted of 1994 killing of college student"
2130:"Florida says execution shouldn't be stayed for Parkinson's symptoms"
919:
475:
101:
1932:"DeSantis signs death warrant for inmate convicted in 1994 murder"
35:
John Timothy Edwards, who was killed during a camping trip in 1994
809:
As of 2013, Loran Cole was one of the eight killers convicted in
676:
441:
210:
159:
81:
58:
326:
1788:"Four death row inmates lose appeals before state high court"
242:
1233:"Suspect's mom believes drugs the cause of son's problems".
871:
from the school should allow a fresh review of Cole's case.
707:
699:
548:
264:
263:. Kevin's real name was Loran Kenstley Cole, a 27-year-old
1754:"State high court denies DNA test for death-row inmate".
1029:"2. Arrested In Rape, Killing In Ocala National Forest".
1706:"High court rejects appeals from four death row inmates"
2274:"Man convicted of murder and rape executed in Florida"
1576:"COLE FOUND GUILTY OF KILLING STUDENT IN OCALA FOREST"
1476:"Jury Selection Begins In Ocala Forest Murder Trial".
1198:"POLICE CHARGE 2 MEN IN SLAYING, RAPE IN OCALA FOREST"
1543:"SURVIVOR OF CAMP HORROR TELLS OF BROTHER'S SLAYING"
1263:"Man sentenced to life in prison in forest murder".
962:
List of people executed in the United States in 2024
713:In 1984, when Cole was 17, he went to live at the
404:with the possibility of parole after 25 years (x5)
245:. Edwards's friends and fraternity brothers from
2397:
1164:"Authorities nab two men in student's slaying".
779:
1391:"Arrest record shows Cole as felony offender".
1045:"Killing and Rape in a Florida National Forest"
481:
2446:People executed by Florida by lethal injection
1492:"Ocala National Forest murder trial under way"
1461:"Citizens Take Safety Into Their Own Hands".
1117:"DAD CALLS SLAIN STUDENT 'BEST KID IN WORLD'"
267:-born man who resided in the Florida city of
1560:"Cole admitted rape, murder, witness says".
1374:"Record gave no hint of a bent for violence"
253:
1656:"Sentence is death for killing in forest".
1525:"Victim tells of kidnap-rape, fatal ordeal"
305:
259:the two murderers Kevin and his brother at
523:
325:
29:
2421:February 1994 crimes in the United States
1639:"Sentence is death for killing in forest"
981:"Accused killers charged in 9 felonies".
894:On August 26, 2024, Cole appealed to the
874:A follow-up appeal was submitted to the
2441:Prisoners sentenced to death by Florida
1149:"Two men arrested in camping assault".
996:"Student's killer sentenced to death".
820:
743:
2398:
1842:"Marion County murderers on death row"
1824:"Death row inmate denied relief again"
1338:"SUSPECTS AIMLESSLY MADE WAY TO OCALA"
1279:"Plea deal accepted in forest slaying"
937:reinstated the death penalty in 1976.
503:
93:Knife wounds to neck and head injuries
2436:People convicted of murder by Florida
768:On December 21, 1995, Circuit Judge
1509:"Prosecutors want death sentence".
1431:"'It should never have happened'".
498:Cross City Correctional Institution
452:Cross City Correctional Institution
13:
1806:"Death row inmate continues fight"
1770:"Court Denies DNA Test for Killer"
1723:"Killer's lawyers seek reprieve".
1623:"Jury recommends death sentence".
957:List of people executed in Florida
825:
14:
2457:
2411:1994 murders in the United States
1672:"Saying goodbye to Judge Swigert"
1411:FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
1301:FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
1248:"Paul pleaded in forest murder".
1216:"Suspects accused of escape plot"
1180:"2 charged in Ocala rape, murder"
865:Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys
852:
765:for the murder of John Edwards.
715:Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys
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989:
974:
834:on August 29, 2024, after the
529:Mugshot of Loran Kenstley Cole
130:Victim of a kidnap-murder case
1:
2416:Capital punishment in Florida
1608:"Jury urges death for Cole".
967:
947:Capital punishment in Florida
780:Loran Kenstley Cole's appeals
310:
906:
633:Rape, robbery and kidnapping
482:Plea of guilt and sentencing
7:
1134:"Arrests made in killing".
940:
652:John Edwards, 18 (deceased)
417:John Edwards, 18 (deceased)
220:student, and his sister, a
189:on August 29, 2024, at the
10:
2462:
2431:People murdered in Florida
889:
841:signed his death warrant.
692:
682:
666:
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254:Investigations and arrest
200:
144:
140:Victoria Edwards (mother)
134:
126:
118:
107:
97:
89:
66:
40:
28:
21:
1742:Supreme Court of Florida
1693:Supreme Court of Florida
1325:Supreme Court of Florida
857:
319:William Christopher Paul
306:William Christopher Paul
218:Florida State University
168:William Christopher Paul
138:Timothy Edwards (father)
112:Florida State University
1756:Sarasota Herald-Tribune
1710:Sarasota Herald-Tribune
998:Sarasota Herald-Tribune
654:Pam Edwards, 21 (alive)
419:Pam Edwards, 21 (alive)
365:Incarcerated since 1994
331:Mugshot of William Paul
1151:Pensacola News Journal
918:Cole reportedly ate a
847:Michael Duane Zack III
836:Florida state governor
1627:. September 30, 1995.
1612:. September 30, 1995.
1597:. September 29, 1995.
1582:. September 29, 1995.
1564:. September 27, 1995.
1549:. September 28, 1995.
1531:. September 28, 1995.
1513:. September 26, 1995.
1498:. September 26, 1995.
1480:. September 18, 1995.
876:Florida Supreme Court
786:Florida Supreme Court
673:Ocala National Forest
438:Ocala National Forest
207:Ocala National Forest
156:Ocala National Forest
78:Ocala National Forest
2116:Tallahassee Democrat
1900:Tallahassee Democrat
1848:. December 13, 2018.
1794:. November 25, 2004.
1776:. November 23, 2004.
1758:. November 25, 2004.
1660:. December 21, 1995.
1658:St. Petersburg Times
1645:. December 21, 1995.
1465:. February 27, 1995.
1450:. February 27, 1995.
1435:. February 23, 1994.
1395:. February 22, 1994.
1380:. February 23, 1994.
1360:Tallahassee Democrat
1344:. February 23, 1995.
1237:. February 22, 1994.
1204:. February 22, 1995.
1186:. February 22, 1994.
1168:. February 22, 1994.
1166:Tallahassee Democrat
1153:. February 22, 1994.
1138:. February 22, 1994.
1123:. February 24, 1994.
1051:. February 23, 1994.
1033:. February 22, 1994.
1016:Tallahassee Democrat
1000:. December 22, 1995.
985:. February 23, 1994.
913:Florida State Prison
821:Cole's death warrant
815:death row in Florida
744:Trial and sentencing
687:Florida State Prison
568:Florida State Prison
465:Knoxville, Tennessee
354:Knoxville, Tennessee
273:Knoxville, Tennessee
191:Florida State Prison
164:John Timothy Edwards
148:Pam Edwards (sister)
45:John Timothy Edwards
1830:. January 23, 2018.
1727:. October 30, 2003.
1712:. January 16, 2003.
952:List of kidnappings
880:Parkinson's disease
737:prison overcrowding
517:Loran Kenstley Cole
504:Loran Kenstley Cole
470:When Paul attended
293:under Florida law.
172:Loran Kenstley Cole
90:Cause of death
2388:. August 29, 2024.
2370:. August 29, 2024.
2352:. August 28, 2024.
2334:. August 29, 2024.
2316:. August 29, 2024.
2298:. August 29, 2024.
2280:. August 29, 2024.
2262:. August 29, 2024.
2244:. August 29, 2024.
2226:. August 29, 2024.
2208:. August 29, 2024.
2190:. August 28, 2024.
2172:. August 29, 2024.
2170:The New York Times
2154:. August 27, 2024.
2136:. August 27, 2024.
2118:. August 26, 2024.
2100:. August 26, 2024.
2082:. August 26, 2024.
2064:. August 23, 2024.
2046:. August 23, 2024.
2028:. August 15, 2024.
1920:. October 3, 2023.
1049:The New York Times
1018:. August 29, 2024.
935:U.S. Supreme Court
896:U.S. Supreme Court
770:William T. Swigert
683:Imprisoned at
448:Imprisoned at
287:sentenced to death
183:sentenced to death
2426:Murder in Florida
2332:Naples Daily News
2010:. August 9, 2024.
1992:. August 9, 2024.
1974:. August 7, 2024.
1902:. August 1, 2024.
1846:Ocala Star-Banner
1828:Ocala Star-Banner
1810:Ocala Star-Banner
1725:Ocala Star-Banner
1676:Ocala Star-Banner
1610:Ocala Star-Banner
1595:Ocala Star-Banner
1562:Ocala Star-Banner
1511:Ocala Star-Banner
1478:Ocala Star-Banner
1433:Ocala Star-Banner
1393:Ocala Star-Banner
1362:. August 8, 2024.
1297:"PAUL, WILLIAM C"
1265:Ocala Star-Banner
1250:Ocala Star-Banner
1136:Ocala Star-Banner
1103:Ocala Star-Banner
1031:Bangor Daily News
983:Ocala Star-Banner
696:
695:
662:February 18, 1994
637:Life imprisonment
545:November 11, 1966
472:Gibbs High School
461:
460:
427:February 18, 1994
402:Life imprisonment
291:life imprisonment
179:life imprisonment
152:
151:
70:February 18, 1994
2453:
2390:
2389:
2378:
2372:
2371:
2360:
2354:
2353:
2342:
2336:
2335:
2324:
2318:
2317:
2314:The Miami Herald
2306:
2300:
2299:
2288:
2282:
2281:
2270:
2264:
2263:
2252:
2246:
2245:
2234:
2228:
2227:
2216:
2210:
2209:
2198:
2192:
2191:
2180:
2174:
2173:
2162:
2156:
2155:
2144:
2138:
2137:
2126:
2120:
2119:
2108:
2102:
2101:
2090:
2084:
2083:
2072:
2066:
2065:
2054:
2048:
2047:
2036:
2030:
2029:
2018:
2012:
2011:
2008:Tampa Free Press
2000:
1994:
1993:
1990:Orlando Sentinel
1982:
1976:
1975:
1964:
1958:
1957:
1956:. July 30, 2024.
1954:Tampa Free Press
1946:
1940:
1939:
1938:. July 30, 2024.
1928:
1922:
1921:
1910:
1904:
1903:
1892:
1886:
1885:
1884:. July 30, 2024.
1874:
1868:
1867:
1866:. July 31, 2024.
1856:
1850:
1849:
1838:
1832:
1831:
1820:
1814:
1813:
1802:
1796:
1795:
1784:
1778:
1777:
1766:
1760:
1759:
1751:
1745:
1744:(United States).
1735:
1729:
1728:
1720:
1714:
1713:
1702:
1696:
1695:(United States).
1686:
1680:
1679:
1668:
1662:
1661:
1653:
1647:
1646:
1635:
1629:
1628:
1620:
1614:
1613:
1605:
1599:
1598:
1590:
1584:
1583:
1580:Orlando Sentinel
1572:
1566:
1565:
1557:
1551:
1550:
1547:Orlando Sentinel
1539:
1533:
1532:
1521:
1515:
1514:
1506:
1500:
1499:
1488:
1482:
1481:
1473:
1467:
1466:
1458:
1452:
1451:
1443:
1437:
1436:
1428:
1422:
1421:
1419:
1417:
1403:
1397:
1396:
1388:
1382:
1381:
1370:
1364:
1363:
1352:
1346:
1345:
1342:Orlando Sentinel
1334:
1328:
1327:(United States).
1318:
1312:
1311:
1309:
1307:
1293:
1287:
1286:
1285:. July 14, 1995.
1275:
1269:
1268:
1260:
1254:
1253:
1245:
1239:
1238:
1230:
1224:
1223:
1212:
1206:
1205:
1202:Orlando Sentinel
1194:
1188:
1187:
1176:
1170:
1169:
1161:
1155:
1154:
1146:
1140:
1139:
1131:
1125:
1124:
1121:Orlando Sentinel
1113:
1107:
1106:
1105:. July 30, 2024.
1095:
1089:
1088:
1087:. July 30, 2024.
1077:
1071:
1070:
1069:. July 30, 2024.
1059:
1053:
1052:
1041:
1035:
1034:
1026:
1020:
1019:
1008:
1002:
1001:
993:
987:
986:
978:
832:lethal injection
734:
733:
729:
726:
669:
621:Criminal penalty
607:
585:Lethal injection
572:Raiford, Florida
563:
544:
542:
527:
513:
512:
434:
398:Criminal penalty
386:
350:
346:
344:
329:
315:
314:
195:Raiford, Florida
187:lethal injection
73:
54:
52:
33:
19:
18:
2461:
2460:
2456:
2455:
2454:
2452:
2451:
2450:
2406:1994 in Florida
2396:
2395:
2394:
2393:
2380:
2379:
2375:
2362:
2361:
2357:
2344:
2343:
2339:
2326:
2325:
2321:
2308:
2307:
2303:
2290:
2289:
2285:
2272:
2271:
2267:
2254:
2253:
2249:
2236:
2235:
2231:
2224:Tampa Bay Times
2218:
2217:
2213:
2200:
2199:
2195:
2182:
2181:
2177:
2164:
2163:
2159:
2146:
2145:
2141:
2128:
2127:
2123:
2110:
2109:
2105:
2092:
2091:
2087:
2074:
2073:
2069:
2056:
2055:
2051:
2038:
2037:
2033:
2020:
2019:
2015:
2002:
2001:
1997:
1984:
1983:
1979:
1972:Tampa Bay Times
1966:
1965:
1961:
1948:
1947:
1943:
1936:Tampa Bay Times
1930:
1929:
1925:
1912:
1911:
1907:
1894:
1893:
1889:
1876:
1875:
1871:
1858:
1857:
1853:
1840:
1839:
1835:
1822:
1821:
1817:
1812:. May 10, 2017.
1804:
1803:
1799:
1792:Tampa Bay Times
1786:
1785:
1781:
1774:Lakeland Ledger
1768:
1767:
1763:
1753:
1752:
1748:
1736:
1732:
1722:
1721:
1717:
1704:
1703:
1699:
1687:
1683:
1670:
1669:
1665:
1655:
1654:
1650:
1643:Tampa Bay Times
1637:
1636:
1632:
1622:
1621:
1617:
1607:
1606:
1602:
1592:
1591:
1587:
1574:
1573:
1569:
1559:
1558:
1554:
1541:
1540:
1536:
1529:Tampa Bay Times
1523:
1522:
1518:
1508:
1507:
1503:
1496:Tampa Bay Times
1490:
1489:
1485:
1475:
1474:
1470:
1460:
1459:
1455:
1448:Gainesville Sun
1445:
1444:
1440:
1430:
1429:
1425:
1415:
1413:
1407:"COLE, LORAN K"
1405:
1404:
1400:
1390:
1389:
1385:
1378:Tampa Bay Times
1372:
1371:
1367:
1354:
1353:
1349:
1336:
1335:
1331:
1319:
1315:
1305:
1303:
1295:
1294:
1290:
1283:Tampa Bay Times
1277:
1276:
1272:
1267:. July 1, 1995.
1262:
1261:
1257:
1252:. July 1, 1995.
1247:
1246:
1242:
1235:Gainesville Sun
1232:
1231:
1227:
1222:. May 20, 1994.
1220:Tampa Bay Times
1214:
1213:
1209:
1196:
1195:
1191:
1184:Tampa Bay Times
1178:
1177:
1173:
1163:
1162:
1158:
1148:
1147:
1143:
1133:
1132:
1128:
1115:
1114:
1110:
1097:
1096:
1092:
1085:The Independent
1079:
1078:
1074:
1061:
1060:
1056:
1043:
1042:
1038:
1028:
1027:
1023:
1010:
1009:
1005:
995:
994:
990:
980:
979:
975:
970:
943:
909:
892:
860:
855:
828:
826:Execution order
823:
782:
746:
731:
727:
724:
722:
704:substance abuse
667:
653:
635:
631:
627:
615:
613:
612:Kidnapping (x2)
611:
603:
580:Criminal status
575:
565:
561:
560:August 29, 2024
552:
546:
540:
538:
530:
518:
511:
506:
484:
432:
418:
392:
391:Kidnapping (x2)
390:
382:
362:Criminal status
357:
351:
348:
342:
340:
332:
320:
313:
308:
303:
261:Tuscawilla Park
256:
247:Phi Gamma Delta
203:
139:
85:
75:
71:
62:
56:
50:
48:
47:
46:
36:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
2459:
2449:
2448:
2443:
2438:
2433:
2428:
2423:
2418:
2413:
2408:
2392:
2391:
2373:
2355:
2337:
2319:
2301:
2283:
2265:
2247:
2229:
2211:
2193:
2175:
2157:
2139:
2121:
2103:
2085:
2067:
2049:
2031:
2013:
1995:
1977:
1959:
1941:
1923:
1905:
1887:
1869:
1851:
1833:
1815:
1797:
1779:
1761:
1746:
1730:
1715:
1697:
1681:
1678:. May 1, 2014.
1663:
1648:
1630:
1615:
1600:
1585:
1567:
1552:
1534:
1516:
1501:
1483:
1468:
1453:
1438:
1423:
1398:
1383:
1365:
1347:
1329:
1313:
1288:
1270:
1255:
1240:
1225:
1207:
1189:
1171:
1156:
1141:
1126:
1108:
1090:
1072:
1054:
1036:
1021:
1003:
988:
972:
971:
969:
966:
965:
964:
959:
954:
949:
942:
939:
908:
905:
891:
888:
859:
856:
854:
851:
827:
824:
822:
819:
813:to be held on
793:Daniel Conahan
781:
778:
745:
742:
694:
693:
690:
689:
684:
680:
679:
670:
664:
663:
660:
656:
655:
650:
646:
645:
641:
640:
622:
618:
617:
608:
600:
599:
596:
592:
591:
588:
587:
581:
577:
576:
566:
564:(aged 57)
558:
554:
553:
547:
536:
532:
531:
528:
520:
519:
516:
510:
507:
505:
502:
489:life sentences
483:
480:
459:
458:
455:
454:
449:
445:
444:
435:
429:
428:
425:
421:
420:
415:
411:
410:
406:
405:
399:
395:
394:
387:
379:
378:
375:
371:
370:
367:
366:
363:
359:
358:
352:
347:April 19, 1973
338:
334:
333:
330:
322:
321:
318:
312:
309:
307:
304:
302:
299:
255:
252:
222:Eckerd College
202:
199:
150:
149:
146:
142:
141:
136:
132:
131:
128:
127:Known for
124:
123:
120:
116:
115:
109:
105:
104:
99:
95:
94:
91:
87:
86:
76:
74:(aged 18)
68:
64:
63:
57:
44:
42:
38:
37:
34:
26:
25:
22:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
2458:
2447:
2444:
2442:
2439:
2437:
2434:
2432:
2429:
2427:
2424:
2422:
2419:
2417:
2414:
2412:
2409:
2407:
2404:
2403:
2401:
2387:
2383:
2377:
2369:
2365:
2359:
2351:
2347:
2341:
2333:
2329:
2323:
2315:
2311:
2305:
2297:
2293:
2287:
2279:
2275:
2269:
2261:
2257:
2251:
2243:
2239:
2233:
2225:
2221:
2215:
2207:
2203:
2197:
2189:
2185:
2179:
2171:
2167:
2161:
2153:
2149:
2143:
2135:
2131:
2125:
2117:
2113:
2107:
2099:
2095:
2089:
2081:
2077:
2071:
2063:
2059:
2053:
2045:
2041:
2035:
2027:
2023:
2017:
2009:
2005:
1999:
1991:
1987:
1981:
1973:
1969:
1963:
1955:
1951:
1945:
1937:
1933:
1927:
1919:
1915:
1909:
1901:
1897:
1891:
1883:
1879:
1873:
1865:
1861:
1855:
1847:
1843:
1837:
1829:
1825:
1819:
1811:
1807:
1801:
1793:
1789:
1783:
1775:
1771:
1765:
1757:
1750:
1743:
1739:
1738:COLE v. STATE
1734:
1726:
1719:
1711:
1707:
1701:
1694:
1690:
1689:COLE v. STATE
1685:
1677:
1673:
1667:
1659:
1652:
1644:
1640:
1634:
1626:
1625:Granville Sun
1619:
1611:
1604:
1596:
1589:
1581:
1577:
1571:
1563:
1556:
1548:
1544:
1538:
1530:
1526:
1520:
1512:
1505:
1497:
1493:
1487:
1479:
1472:
1464:
1457:
1449:
1442:
1434:
1427:
1412:
1408:
1402:
1394:
1387:
1379:
1375:
1369:
1361:
1357:
1351:
1343:
1339:
1333:
1326:
1322:
1321:COLE v. STATE
1317:
1302:
1298:
1292:
1284:
1280:
1274:
1266:
1259:
1251:
1244:
1236:
1229:
1221:
1217:
1211:
1203:
1199:
1193:
1185:
1181:
1175:
1167:
1160:
1152:
1145:
1137:
1130:
1122:
1118:
1112:
1104:
1100:
1094:
1086:
1082:
1076:
1068:
1064:
1058:
1050:
1046:
1040:
1032:
1025:
1017:
1013:
1007:
999:
992:
984:
977:
973:
963:
960:
958:
955:
953:
950:
948:
945:
944:
938:
936:
931:
927:
925:
921:
916:
914:
904:
900:
897:
887:
884:
881:
877:
872:
868:
866:
853:Final appeals
850:
848:
842:
840:
837:
833:
818:
816:
812:
811:Marion County
807:
805:
804:habeas corpus
800:
796:
794:
789:
787:
777:
774:
771:
766:
764:
763:death penalty
758:
754:
750:
741:
738:
718:
716:
711:
709:
705:
701:
691:
688:
685:
681:
678:
674:
671:
665:
661:
657:
651:
647:
642:
638:
634:
630:
626:
623:
619:
609:
606:
605:Conviction(s)
601:
597:
593:
589:
586:
582:
578:
573:
569:
559:
555:
550:
537:
533:
526:
521:
514:
501:
499:
493:
490:
479:
477:
473:
468:
466:
456:
453:
450:
446:
443:
439:
436:
430:
426:
422:
416:
412:
407:
403:
400:
396:
388:
385:
384:Conviction(s)
380:
376:
372:
368:
364:
360:
355:
349:(age 51)
339:
335:
328:
323:
316:
298:
294:
292:
288:
282:
279:
274:
270:
266:
262:
251:
248:
244:
240:
234:
230:
226:
223:
219:
214:
212:
208:
198:
196:
192:
188:
184:
180:
175:
173:
169:
165:
161:
157:
147:
143:
137:
133:
129:
125:
121:
117:
113:
110:
106:
103:
100:
96:
92:
88:
83:
79:
69:
65:
60:
55:July 13, 1975
43:
39:
32:
27:
20:
2385:
2376:
2367:
2358:
2349:
2340:
2331:
2322:
2313:
2304:
2295:
2286:
2277:
2268:
2259:
2250:
2241:
2232:
2223:
2214:
2205:
2196:
2187:
2178:
2169:
2160:
2151:
2142:
2133:
2124:
2115:
2106:
2097:
2088:
2079:
2070:
2061:
2052:
2043:
2034:
2025:
2016:
2007:
1998:
1989:
1980:
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614:Robbery (x2)
583:Executed by
562:(2024-08-29)
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393:Robbery (x2)
301:Perpetrators
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114:(incomplete)
72:(1994-02-18)
23:John Edwards
668:Location(s)
610:Murder (x1)
433:Location(s)
389:Murder (x1)
216:Edwards, a
98:Nationality
2400:Categories
2386:The Mirror
2296:The Mirror
1593:"Guilty".
1416:August 11,
1306:August 11,
968:References
922:of pizza,
541:1966-11-11
509:Early life
343:1973-04-19
311:Early life
278:Cincinnati
119:Occupation
51:1975-07-13
2350:USA Today
2260:USA Today
2098:NBC Miami
2044:NBC Miami
2026:NBC Miami
1067:NBC Miami
924:M&M's
920:last meal
907:Execution
616:Rape (x2)
476:marijuana
135:Parent(s)
108:Education
2188:ABC News
2152:NBC News
2062:CBS News
1882:ABC News
1463:The News
941:See also
102:American
2242:AP News
2134:AP News
2080:AP News
1918:AP News
1864:AP News
890:Federal
730:⁄
677:Florida
649:Victims
644:Details
598:Robbery
442:Florida
414:Victims
409:Details
377:Robbery
269:Orlando
239:Okinawa
211:Florida
160:Florida
122:Student
82:Florida
59:Florida
625:Murder
595:Motive
574:, U.S.
551:, U.S.
374:Motive
356:, U.S.
201:Murder
145:Family
84:, U.S.
61:, U.S.
858:State
629:Death
243:Japan
1418:2024
1308:2024
708:Ohio
700:Iowa
659:Date
639:(x6)
557:Died
549:Iowa
535:Born
424:Date
337:Born
265:Iowa
170:and
67:Died
41:Born
2368:UPI
2278:BBC
2206:CNN
289:or
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