Joseph M. L. Gardner, of South Carolina, was convicted of torture and murder of a woman 16 years ago. Gardner was executed by lethal injection on Friday, Dec. 5. Gardner was killed in the death chamber of Columbia. Gardner did not make any last statements but silently told his relative, through mouthing, that he was alright.

Joseph M. L. Gardner was tried and convicted for the kidnapping, rape and killing of Melissa “Missi” McLauchlin, then 25. Police claimed that Gardner and his co-defendants killed a white woman as their idea of retribution for slavery. McLauchlin’s family disagreed with this claim.

Joseph Gardner was the 40th convicted criminal executed in South Carolina since 1976.

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This entry was posted on Saturday, December 6th, 2008 at 4:00 am and is filed under News.