Richard Gerald Jordan, the longest-serving death row inmate in Mississippi’s history, was executed on June 25, 2025, nearly 50 years after he brutally murdered Edwina Marter in 1976. Jordan, 79, was pronounced dead at 6:16 p.m. following a lethal injection. Before his death, he offered final words to Edwina’s family: “I love you all very much. I will see you on the other side, all of you.”

The tragedy occurred when Jordan kidnapped Edwina Marter from her home, drove her to a remote area, and shot her in the back of the head as she attempted to escape. He then falsely claimed she was alive, demanding a $25,000 ransom. Jordan was arrested the following day in Alabama. Despite being sentenced to death in 1977, legal delays and multiple appeals dragged the case out for decades.

For Edwina’s son, Eric Marter, the long wait for justice was agonizing. At 59, he chose not to attend the execution, feeling that the case should have been resolved long ago. While Jordan’s family acknowledged the humane handling of his death, the Marter family voiced their anger, expressing that Jordan should have endured suffering similar to what Edwina experienced before her death.

The execution closed a painful chapter for the Marter family. Though justice was delivered, they mourned that nothing could bring back their loved one, and they struggled with the emotional toll of decades-long delays in the legal process.