Stephen Bryant Scheduled for Execution in South Carolina

Columbia, SC, October 18, 2025

News Summary

Stephen Bryant, convicted of a triple homicide in 2004, is set for execution on November 14, 2025. This marks him as the seventh execution since the death penalty’s resumption in South Carolina. Charges against Bryant include the brutal murders of Cliff Gainey, Willard Tietjen, and Christopher Burgess, all committed during a violent crime spree. His case has raised discussions about capital punishment and mental health, as his defense argues he suffers from impairments affecting impulse control.

Columbia, South Carolina – Stephen Bryant Set for Execution on November 14 for Triple Homicide Committed in 2004

Stephen Bryant, 44, has been issued a death warrant by the South Carolina Supreme Court for the murders of three individuals in 2004. His execution is scheduled for November 14, 2025. This event will mark Bryant as the seventh person executed in South Carolina since the death penalty resumed in September 2024. Bryant has been given 14 days to select his method of execution: lethal injection, firing squad, or electric chair. To date, four inmates have chosen lethal injection, while two have opted for the firing squad.

The execution is set to take place in the death chamber at Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia. Charges against Bryant include the deaths of Cliff Gainey, Willard Tietjen, and Christopher Burgess, all of whom were murdered during a violent crime spree that lasted nine days. Additionally, Bryant shot a fourth individual, Clinton Brown, in the back of the head, but Brown survived the assault.

Bryant pleaded guilty to the murders, which were characterized by their brutality and occurred within a five-mile radius in the rural area of Sumter County. His crime spree began with two residential burglaries in which he obtained the .40 caliber Smith & Wesson handgun used in the murders. On October 9, 2004, Bryant shot Gainey, a co-worker, on the roadside, then returned to Gainey’s home to steal items. Two days later, he killed 62-year-old Willard Tietjen, who was disabled, shooting him nine times and engaged in further desecration by using Tietjen’s blood to write on the wall. Tietjen’s wife was later informed of her husband’s death in a call from Bryant.

Subsequently, Bryant killed Christopher Burgess, whom he encountered at a convenience store. He shot Burgess twice on October 13, 2004. Despite his heinous actions, Bryant’s defense attorneys have argued that he suffers from fetal alcohol syndrome and post-traumatic stress disorder due to childhood sexual abuse, which they claim have impaired his impulse control. Bryant’s legal team contended that he was incompetent for execution due to his mental health status, but these claims were rejected by the courts. The U.S. Supreme Court also declined to review his case, solidifying the decision for his execution.

Bryant’s case is notable because it represents one of the rare instances where a judge has imposed the death penalty following a guilty plea. Since 1985, South Carolina has had a history of high-profile executions, and Bryant will become the 50th inmate executed by the state under the renewed death penalty procedures.

Background on South Carolina’s Death Penalty

South Carolina reinstated the death penalty in 2024, which has led to a significant number of executions. The state has witnessed a recent trend of inmates choosing lethal injection as their preferred method. The criminal cases outlined illustrate the ongoing discussions around the effectiveness and operations of the state’s capital punishment system.

Understanding the Case Against Bryant

The numerous factors surrounding Bryant’s case, including his mental health and the severity of the crimes, reflect broader societal debates about capital punishment and its moral implications. His execution brings forward questions about the effectiveness of the justice system regarding mentally impaired individuals facing the death penalty.

Key Details of the Execution

• Executed individual: Stephen Bryant
• Scheduled execution date: November 14, 2025
• Victims: Cliff Gainey, Willard Tietjen, Christopher Burgess
• Method options: Lethal injection, firing squad, electric chair
• Location: Broad River Correctional Institution, Columbia, SC

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Additional Resources

• SC Daily Gazette
• Wikipedia: Death penalty in South Carolina
• Fox Carolina
• Google Search: Stephen Bryant execution
• Post and Courier
• Google Scholar: capital punishment South Carolina
• The State
• Encyclopedia Britannica: capital punishment
• WTOC
• Google News: South Carolina death penalty

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