Ahead of man’s execution, South Carolina coroner recalls gruesome, 2001 deaths

GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) — A South Carolina man is scheduled to be executed Friday by firing squad.

Sigmon’s execution will be the first firing squad execution in the U.S. in 15 years, and the first ever in South Carolina.

In 2001, Brad Sigmon killed his ex-girlfriend’s parents, Gladys and David Larke, inside their home on East Darby Road in Greenville County.

“Both were brutally murdered,” Greenville County Coroner, Mike Ellis said.

According to the coroner’s office, the Larkes’ deaths were extremely gruesome.

“Mrs. Larke you could obviously tell she had some type of defensive wounds so she tried to fend off her attacker,” Ellis said.

Court records state the Larkes were repeatedly hit on their heads with a baseball bat.

“I remember Mrs. Larke was actually sitting in a chair,” Ellis said. “Mr. Larke he was on the floor, and both had multiple blunt force injuries that we could see immediately.”

Coroner Ellis said that at the time, it wasn’t obvious what object had been used to kill the Larkes, until the bat was found in the home.

“We did find a blunt object,” Ellis said. “It appeared to look like some type of bat with multiple blood and hair on the weapon at the scene.”

Court records report that when Sigmon’s ex-girlfriend, Rebecca Barbare, arrived at the home — Sigmon forced her into a car.

Barbare then jumped out of the moving car. Sigmon got out and chased her, eventually firing a gun at her several times. Barbare was injured but survived. 

According to court records, Sigmon went to Tennessee, where he was captured ten days later. Records also revealed Sigmon had been smoking crack cocaine and drinking alcohol the evening before the murders.

A South Carolina jury found Sigmon guilty of two counts of murder in 2002 and sentenced him to death.

Sigmon’s attorneys filed for clemency with Governor Henry McMaster, hoping instead of the death penalty, his sentence would be changed to life in prison without parole.

When asked if he would grant Sigmon clemency, Gov. McMaster responded:

“I have great confidence in our legal system and our country and especially South Carolina and the law,” said Gov. Henry McMaster.

Sigmon’s execution is scheduled for Friday, March 7, in Columbia.