Richard Gerald Jordan’s Final Words Before Mississippi Execution

Richard Gerald Jordan apologized to his victim’s family and pleaded for forgiveness from his wife in his final statement as the 79-year-old was executed in Mississippi on Wednesday night, June 25.

Jordan had kidnapped and killed a bank loan officer’s wife in a violent ransom scheme, a crime for which he was sentenced to death in 1976. He became the longest-serving man on Mississippi’s death row.

“First I would like to thank everyone for a humane way of doing this. I want to apologize to the victim’s family,” Jordan said in his final statement.

He also thanked his lawyers and his wife and asked for forgiveness. His last words were: “I will see you on the other side, all of you.”

The Vietnam veteran died by lethal injection at the Mississippi State Penitentiary in Parchman in an execution that began at 6 p.m.

Jordan lay on the gurney with his mouth slightly ajar and took several deep breaths before becoming still. The time of death was given as 6:16 p.m.

He had cited post-traumatic stress disorder related to his service in Vietnam in his appeals for clemency.

This is a developing article. Updates to follow.

This article uses reporting by The Associated Press.