A man convicted in a case involving three fatalities became the third individual this year to undergo a rarely used state procedure in the U.S., recently reinstated after about 15 years. Stephen Bryant, 44, selected this method instead of other available options after spending 21 years in custody. He was originally found responsible for several deaths during incidents in 2004, and on 14 November the procedure was carried out in South Carolina. Reports noted that he chose not to give a final statement.
According to The Independent, Bryant’s final meal included seafood stir fry and chocolate cake. He had previously been linked to a series of fatal events involving several individuals in 2004 while on probation. Court documents describe how he gained entry to one person’s home and left a written message at the scene. Additional records mention another person who survived an encounter with him. Authorities confirmed the process was officially completed at 6:05 p.m. local time.
Bryant’s background, according to attorney Bo King, included a genetic disorder and a history of family-related hardship. His mother’s alcohol use reportedly caused long-term developmental impacts, contributing to emotional challenges throughout his life. Before 2025, the last time this procedure had been used in the U.S. was in 2010. This year marks a renewed yet rare application of the method.
Bryant is the third individual in 2025 in South Carolina — and nationally — to undergo this process. Earlier in March, Brad Sigmon became the first person in 15 years to choose the method instead of other available options, with observers saying it appeared noticeably quicker than previous approaches. A month later, another individual, Mikal Mahdi, underwent the same process, leading to questions from his attorneys about medical documentation. The South Carolina Department of Corrections firmly rejected claims of any procedural issues.
