Attorneys for Brad Sigmon have filed a petition for executive clemency with the Governor Henry McMaster, seeking the commutation of Mr. Sigmon’s sentence of death to life imprisonment without parole.
As the petition details, Mr. Sigmon committed his crimes and stood trial while in the grip of an undiagnosed, inherited mental illness. Mr. Sigmon’s disorder triggered manic episodes that, in combination with the organic brain injuries and trauma suffered during his violent and turbulent childhood, overwhelmed him. The result was a psychotic break that likely rendered him incompetent even to stand trial; it also explains both the nature of his crimes and his erratic behavior at trial.
In the more than twenty years since he was sentenced to death, Mr. Sigmon has dedicated himself to his faith, seeking penitence and redemption for his crimes. The petition includes testimonials from prison officials, ministers, family and community members, who describe him as a source of strength and calm and argue that executing him now serves no justice given his significant mental illness and demonstrated rehabilitation.
If executed, Brad, 67, would be the oldest person ever put to death by the state of South Carolina and the first to be executed by firing squad. Since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976, there have been 293 grants of clemency to death row prisoners nationwide – but none in South Carolina.
Gerald “Bo” King, Chief of the Capital Habeas Unit for the Fourth Circuit, which is part of the Federal Public Defender’s Office in the Western District of North Carolina, issued the following statement on behalf of Brad’s legal team, which includes Josh Kendrick of Kendrick and Leonard:
“The Brad Sigmon who was sentenced to death twenty years ago was never the man described at his trial. Due to his trial defense counsel’s failures, the jury never learned that Brad was a hard worker and a loving brother who worked factory shifts as a teenager to make sure his brothers and sisters could eat. Or that Brad was battling an inherited, undiagnosed mental illness that caused irrational and impulsive episodes, which he desperately tried to medicate with street drugs. And that Brad, who was already struggling with organic brain damage and grief from his violent childhood, succumbed to a psychotic break. Brad admitted his guilt and expressed his deep remorse at trial. But the jury that sentenced him had no idea of how severely compromised his mental health was, or that he was probably incompetent even to stand trial.
The Brad Sigmon who faces execution this Friday has been transformed. When Brad went to prison, he rededicated himself to his Christian faith. He has devoted every day since to prayer, repentance, and the work of redemption. Brad is a peaceful, trusted presence on death row. Guards describe him as respectful and helpful. He serves as an informal chaplain to his fellow prisoners. He is a source of strength to his siblings and children. He is also in declining health and poses a danger to no one.
Brad illustrates the purpose of clemency. Executing the devout and penitent man Brad is today because of the tormented, ill man that he was would be worse than pointless. We urge Governor McMaster to recognize the reality of Brad’s redemption and spare his life."
