Freddie Owens Set for September Execution in SC

South Carolina is set to execute Freddie Eugene Owens on September 20, marking the state's first execution in over 13 years. Owens was convicted of the 1997 murder of convenience store clerk Irene Graves during a robbery spree and has been on death row since 1999. Owens has exhausted his appeals and will be allowed to choose between lethal injection, electrocution, or firing squad, following a recent state Supreme Court ruling that all methods are constitutional. The delay in executions was due to difficulties in obtaining lethal injection drugs, which was resolved by passing a law to keep drug suppliers anonymous. Owens' attorney has raised concerns about the transparency and quality of the lethal injection drugs. The execution will proceed despite these concerns, as the state has confirmed the availability of all three methods.