Georgia Man Executed After Spending 38 Years on Death Row

JACKSON, GA – Brandon Jones, who spent the last 38 years on death row, was executed shortly after midnight for killing a Cobb County convenience store manager back in 1979.

Jones, 72, not only was Georgia’s oldest death row inmate, but also spent more time on death row than any other inmate in the state’s history.

Jones was pronounced dead at 12:46 a.m. Wednesday after a lethal injection of the barbiturate pentobarbital, according to Fox News.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court of Georgia denied a stay of execution, and on the previous day, the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles denied Jones’ clemency request.

This past Friday, an appellate court in Butts County rejected another appeal from Jones to stop his execution.

Jones and Van Roosevelt Solomon were convicted in the murder of Roger Tackett, a ex-school teacher who was working as a convenience store manager. Police say Tackett had gone back to the gas station to close up and catch up on some paperwork so he could spend Father’s Day with his then-8-year-old daughter.

Solomon was executed in 1985, but Jones has spent the last 38 years waiting to be executed. His attorneys say the crime of armed robbery no longer constitutes a death penalty sentence under today’s legal standards. ones declined to make a final statement in front of witnesses but agreed to have a prayer read.

Jones execution had been set for 7 pm, but was delayed while Jones’ attorneys made a last-minute appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, which were denied.