30-06-2025
Mississippi inmate Richard Jordan picks last meal ahead of execution at Parchman
PARCHMAN, Miss. — Richard Jordan, Mississippi's longest-serving death-row inmate, requested chicken tenders, fries, strawberry ice cream and a root beer float for his last meal ahead of his scheduled execution Wednesday, June 25.
Marc McClure, regional superintendent for the Mississippi Department of Corrections, announced the meal choice during a 2 p.m. press conference at the Mississippi State Penitentiary's visitor center in Parchman. He was joined by MDOC Commissioner Burl Cain.
McClure said Jordan would eat his final meal at 4 p.m.
Jordan, 79, is scheduled to be executed Wednesday, June 25, at 6 p.m. at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman. On Monday, June 23, the United States Supreme Court denied Jordan's petition for a review of his case. The decision follows a flurry of appeals from Jordan's lawyers to try to halt the execution in recent weeks. Each have been denied.
Jordan was sentenced to death in 1977 for the 1976 kidnapping and murder of Edwina Marter, a Gulfport bank executive's wife. He's lived on death row for 48 years, making him the state's longest-serving death row prisoner.
When asked what kind of inmate Jordan had been during his decades on death row, McClure said only that he has never been a 'problematic inmate.'
"The Mississippi Department of Corrections is prepared to carry out the execution that's been handed down by the court," McClure said. "That execution will happen at 6 p.m. today. Right now, all movement at the prison is restricted to emergency movement."
Jordan has been in a holding cell since Sunday, June 22. As of Wednesday afternoon, he was meeting with family members, though McClure declined to say who they were.
"He's visited with his family, lawyers, spiritual advisers and matter-of-fact right now he is still meeting with his family at this time," McClure said. "That will carry on through this afternoon 'til approximately 4 p.m."
McClure described Jordan as "talkative, appears to be in a good mood" and that he was telling stories.
"He's talking about his past and his history and things like that," McClure said.
While McClure noted Jordan's demeanor, he declined to answer whether there were concerns about the inmate's mental state, given his age of nearly 80.
"That's not for me to answer, that was the court (who made the decision)," McClure said.
Contact Charlie Drape at cdrape@
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi death row inmate Richard Jordan picks last meal
