History of Brad Sigmon in Timeline

Brad Keith Sigmon was an American convicted murderer executed for the 2001 double murder of his ex-girlfriend's parents, David and Gladys Larke, in South Carolina. He bludgeoned the couple to death with a baseball bat on April 27, 2001, approximately a week after his breakup with their daughter. Sigmon's case gained notoriety due to the brutality of the crime.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Challenges & Struggles Legacy & Impact

February 28, 1939: Birth of David Larke

David Larke (William David Larke), the father of Rebecca Barbare and victim of Brad Sigmon, was born on February 28, 1939.

January 1, 1942: Birth of Gladys Larke

Gladys Larke (Gladys Gwendolyn Larke), the mother of Rebecca Barbare and victim of Brad Sigmon, was born on January 1, 1942.

November 12, 1957: Birth of Brad Sigmon

On November 12, 1957, Brad Keith Sigmon was born. He was later convicted of murder and executed.

Others born on this day/year

May 29, 1976: Armed Robbery Charge

On May 29, 1976, at the age of 18, Brad Sigmon's criminal activity began in Greer with an armed robbery charge.

1976: Resumption of capital punishment in the United States

In 1976, capital punishment was resumed in the United States. Since then, only three people, all in Utah, were put to death by firing squad.

1976: First firing squad executions since 1976

Sigmon became the fourth person in the United States to be executed by firing squad since 1976. The country's first three firing squad executions since 1976 were conducted by Utah.

1977: High School Dropout and Marriage

In 1977, Brad Sigmon dropped out of high school, only nine weeks before graduation, to get married. The couple relocated from Upstate South Carolina to Manning, South Carolina.

November 17, 1990: Shooting Incident

On November 17, 1990, Brad Sigmon was treated at a Clarendon County hospital after being shot multiple times in the stomach while breaking into his wife's home in Manning due to a domestic dispute. His son was also injured by a bullet in the arm.

December 4, 1998: Previous Executions

December 4, 1998, was cited as one of five dates between December 4, 1998, and January 8, 1999, during which South Carolina carried out executions during the holiday season.

January 8, 1999: Previous Executions

January 8, 1999, was cited as one of five dates between December 4, 1998, and January 8, 1999, during which South Carolina carried out executions during the holiday season.

April 26, 2001: Planning the Crime

On April 26, 2001, Brad Sigmon spent the night drinking alcohol and consuming cocaine with Eugene Strube. During that time, Sigmon disclosed his plan to go to the Larkes' house to tie up Rebecca Barbare's parents and "get a hold of" Barbare when she returned from taking her children to school.

April 27, 2001: Double Murder Conviction

On April 27, 2001, Brad Sigmon committed the double murder of David and Gladys Larke, his ex-girlfriend's parents, by bludgeoning them to death with a baseball bat.

2001: Kidnapping and Attempted Murder

In 2001, Sigmon forced Rebecca Barbare into a 2001 Honda Passport at gunpoint, planning to drive her to North Carolina. Barbare escaped, and Sigmon shot at her but failed to prevent her escape. She was then treated at Greenville Memorial Hospital.

July 2002: Murder Trial

In July 2002, Brad Sigmon stood trial for two counts of murder and first-degree burglary, admitting his guilt to the jury.

July 20, 2002: Death Sentence

On July 20, 2002, the jury unanimously sentenced Brad Sigmon to death for both counts of murder. He also received 30 years in prison for the burglary charge.

December 19, 2005: Appeal Rejected

On December 19, 2005, the South Carolina Supreme Court rejected Brad Sigmon's direct appeal against his death sentences and double murder conviction.

June 2010: Execution of Ronnie Lee Gardner

In June 2010, Ronnie Lee Gardner was executed in Utah, marking the last firing squad execution in the United States before Sigmon's.

2010: Last firing squad execution before Sigmon

In 2010, there was the most recent execution by firing squad in the United States, before Sigmon's.

2011: Unofficial Moratorium

In 2011, South Carolina effectively imposed an unofficial moratorium on executions due to a shortage of lethal injection drugs.

May 8, 2013: Second Appeal Rejected

On May 8, 2013, Brad Sigmon's second appeal to the South Carolina Supreme Court was rejected.

September 30, 2018: First Federal Appeal Dismissed

On September 30, 2018, the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina dismissed Brad Sigmon's first federal appeal.

April 14, 2020: 4th Circuit Appeal Rejected

On April 14, 2020, the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Brad Sigmon's appeal.

January 11, 2021: Final Appeal Dismissed

On January 11, 2021, Brad Sigmon's final appeal was dismissed by the U.S. Supreme Court.

February 5, 2021: Stay of Execution

On February 5, 2021, one week before his scheduled execution, Brad Sigmon was issued an indefinite stay of execution by the South Carolina Supreme Court due to the state lacking the necessary drugs for lethal injection.

February 12, 2021: Original Execution Date

Brad Sigmon was originally scheduled to be executed on February 12, 2021, after exhausting all his avenues of appeal.

June 18, 2021: Rescheduled Execution Date

Brad Sigmon was rescheduled to be executed by the electric chair on June 18, 2021, after the new laws were passed, but his death warrant was later suspended.

June 25, 2021: Owens' Execution Date

Freddie Eugene Owens's execution date was set for June 25, 2021, exactly one week after Sigmon's rescheduled date, but it was later suspended.

May 13, 2022: Rescheduled Execution Date

Brad Sigmon's third death warrant was issued, rescheduling his execution date to May 13, 2022. However, he received another stay of execution due to a lawsuit against the electric chair and firing squad execution methods.

2022: Construction of firing squad death chamber

In 2022, the South Carolina prison department spent approximately $54,000 to construct the firing squad death chamber.

September 2023: Resumption of Lethal Injections

In September 2023, South Carolina resolved its shortage of lethal injection drugs and resumed lethal injection executions.

2023: Lawsuit Against Execution Methods

In 2023, Brad Sigmon was among several death row prisoners who filed a lawsuit against South Carolina over the state's decision to introduce the firing squad and electric chair as alternative execution methods, arguing they were unconstitutional.

July 31, 2024: Lawsuit Dismissed

On July 31, 2024, the South Carolina Supreme Court dismissed the lawsuit against the electric chair and firing squad, upholding their constitutionality. This decision affected all 32 inmates on the state's death row, including Sigmon.

August 28, 2024: Execution Order

On August 28, 2024, the South Carolina Supreme Court issued an order allowing the state to carry out six executions over the next year, scheduled 35 days apart.

September 20, 2024: End of Moratorium

On September 20, 2024, the 13-year moratorium on executions in South Carolina ended with the execution of Freddie Owens.

November 1, 2024: Execution of Richard Moore

Richard Moore became the second condemned inmate to be executed in South Carolina on November 1, 2024.

November 8, 2024: Bowman's Execution Date

Following the executions of Owens and Moore, Bowman was set to receive his execution date on November 8, 2024, tentatively scheduled for December 6, 2024.

November 14, 2024: Temporary Respite Granted

On November 14, 2024, the South Carolina Supreme Court granted a temporary respite to the inmates, agreeing not to sign any new death warrants until at least January 3, 2025.

December 6, 2024: Tentative Execution Date for Bowman

December 6, 2024, was the tentatively scheduled execution date for Marion Bowman, before the South Carolina Supreme Court intervened.

January 3, 2025: Bowman's Execution Scheduled

On January 3, 2025, Marion Bowman's execution was scheduled. His execution was carried out on January 31, 2025.

January 31, 2025: Execution of Marion Bowman Jr.

Marion Bowman Jr. became the third of the condemned inmates to be executed on January 31, 2025.

February 7, 2025: Final Death Warrant Issued

On February 7, 2025, the South Carolina Supreme Court issued Brad Sigmon's death warrant and scheduled his execution for March 7, 2025. He was given until February 21 to select his preferred method of execution.

February 21, 2025: Sigmon appeals to SC Supreme Court and chooses firing squad

On February 21, 2025, Brad Sigmon appealed to the South Carolina Supreme Court to present more evidence of brain damage, mental illness, and childhood trauma, arguing these factors made him ineligible for capital punishment. On the same day, February 21, 2025, Sigmon chose to be executed by firing squad.

February 27, 2025: Sigmon appeals to SC Supreme Court to delay execution

On February 27, 2025, after the release of Marion Bowman's autopsy report, Sigmon appealed to the South Carolina Supreme Court to further delay his execution, seeking more information about the lethal injection drug and procedure.