Execution date set for Mississippi inmate who raped, killed student

The Mississippi Supreme Court has set the execution date of a man sitting on death row for more than 30 years.

Charles Ray Crawford was sentenced to death in 1994 for the kidnapping, rape, and killing of Northeast Mississippi Community College student Kristy Ray, which had occurred one year prior to his conviction. After multiple failed attempts at appealing his sentence, the state’s high court finally determined when the inmate would be put to death. Crawford, 59, will be executed on Oct. 15.

“After due consideration, the Court finds Crawford. has exhausted all state and federal remedies for purposes of setting an execution date under Mississippi Code Section 99-19-106 (Rev. 2020),” the state’s high court stated. “The Court therefore finds that the State’s Renewed Motion to Set Executio