South Carolina Executes Stephen Stanko Amid Rising Calls to End the Death Penalty
- CUBNSC
- Jun 13
- 3 min read
By Javar Juarez
Reporting from Columbia, SC | Broad River Correctional Institution
This evening, at precisely 6:00 p.m., South Carolina carried out the execution of Stephen Christopher Stanko, age 57, by lethal injection at Broad River Correctional Institution. Stanko was convicted of two heinous 2005 murders—first, the strangulation of his girlfriend and attempted murder of her teenage daughter, and later, the brutal killing of a 74-year-old friend, Henry Turner, whom he robbed.
But as the state pushed forward with what is now its sixth execution in under a year, protestors and faith leaders gathered outside the prison, calling for compassion, transparency, and long-overdue reform.
Stephen Stanko: “Two Wrongs Don’t Make a Right”
Only thirty minutes before the scheduled execution, CUBNSC was on the ground speaking with local advocates, including an anonymous Christian supporter who offered a pointed reflection:
“Executing a person for murder? Two wrongs don’t make a right… Our Blessed Mother forgave even those who tortured her son. That is what Christ calls us to do.”
This sentiment—rooted in faith—was echoed throughout the crowd. Grief, conviction, and a call for moral leadership defined the energy of the gathering.
Reverend Hillary Taylor Speaks Out
In an exclusive interview, Rev. F. Hillary Taylor, Executive Director of South Carolinians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (SCADP), condemned the execution as a misuse of state resources and a failure of justice.
“The death penalty disproportionately targets poor people, people of color, and individuals with traumatic brain injuries or mental health issues who cannot afford adequate legal representation,” Rev. Taylor stated. “Stephen Stanko had documented brain damage from early-life trauma and sports-related injuries—placing him in the bottom 2.4% of cognitive function.”
She continued, pointing out that South Carolina’s so-called “lethal injection secrecy law,” passed in 2023, shields from public scrutiny where the drugs are sourced and whether they meet safety and ethical standards.
“We believe the state may be buying poisons from black-market suppliers… taxpayers are paying up to $1.5 million for substances we can’t even verify,” she said. “And we’re supposed to just trust that? Meanwhile, nothing about our public safety has improved.”
A Petition Left Unheard
Despite a petition that garnered nearly 5,000 signatures urging Governor Henry McMaster to commute Stanko’s sentence to life without parole, no action was taken.
“This isn’t about excusing what Stephen did,” said Rev. Taylor. “But execution isn’t justice—it’s a distraction. That money could be spent on education, housing, mental health care, and rehabilitation—things that actually prevent violence.”
The petition from SCADP remains online for public viewing and support:
Public Safety or Political Posturing?
Rev. Taylor pointed out that for every eight executions in the United States, one person has been exonerated. “If we had airplane crash rates like that, we would never fly again,” she noted. “Why do we gamble with human life this way?”
She also highlighted that in states without the death penalty, law enforcement deaths in action are lower—contrary to popular belief.
“Death penalty states aren’t protecting officers better—they’re just avoiding real solutions,” she concluded.
Final Thoughts
As the sun set over Columbia, the crowd outside Broad River Correctional stood in somber silence. The state’s choice was final—but so too is the growing voice of a movement seeking to abolish capital punishment in South Carolina.
In the words of the anonymous faith leader standing vigil:
“When we act out of fear and pain instead of turning to God, we miss the chance to follow Christ’s example. Justice must be more than vengeance.”
For press inquiries and more information:
📩 Rev. Hillary Taylor, Executive Director, SCADP
📧 hillary@scadp.org | 📞 864-625-3245
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