Loran Cole, 57, was administered a lethal injection at Florida State Prison and pronounced dead at 6:15 p.m. for the 1994 murder of the 18-year-old student. He was also serving two life sentences for rape.
Cole did not make a final statement, responding “No sir” when asked if he had any last words. Shortly after the procedure began around 6 p.m., he glanced briefly at a witness in the front row. He then started taking deep breaths, his cheeks puffing out, and his body trembled slightly. Five minutes into the process, the warden shook him and called his name; Cole then appeared to stop breathing and was declared dead.
Department of Corrections officials reported that Cole was “compliant” in the hours leading up to his execution and had two visitors, including his son. The US Supreme Court had denied Cole’s final appeal earlier that day.
Court records show that Cole and his accomplice, William Paul, had befriended the college students in Ocala National Forest. After spending time around a campfire, they offered to take the siblings to see a pond. Once away from the campsite, Cole and Paul attacked the victims, robbing them.
The 18-year-old brother, a student at Florida State University, was beaten, had his throat slit, and was left dead in the forest. His sister, then a 21-year-old senior at Eckerd College, was taken back to the campsite where Cole raped and restrained her. She managed to free herself and seek help the following morning. Police found her brother’s body face down in the forest.
Both Cole and Paul were convicted of first-degree murder, with Paul receiving a life sentence. Governor Ron DeSantis signed Cole’s death warrant last month.
This execution was the first in Florida since Michael Zack was put to death in October for the 1996 murder of Ravonne Smith.
