He Killed 3 People — Then Taunted Investigators with Messages Written in Victims’ Blood

South Carolina Inmate Scheduled for Execution for Murdering Three People and Taunting Investigators with Blood Messages

A South Carolina death row inmate, Stephen Corey Bryant, is set to face execution next month after brutally murdering three people and leaving taunting messages written in blood at the crime scenes. The Supreme Court of South Carolina issued a death warrant for the 44-year-old Bryant on October 17, as reported by an execution notice obtained by PEOPLE.

Bryant stands accused of fatally shooting 62-year-old William Tietjen, 36-year-old Clifton Gainey, and 35-year-old Christopher Burgess during a horrific week-long burglary and killing spree in rural Sumter County back in the fall of 2004. He is scheduled to be put to death on November 14, with the choice of execution methods being lethal injection, firing squad, or electrocution.

The court denied a request for a postponement made by Bryant’s attorneys, citing the recent U.S. government shutdown, pushing forward his execution date. As per the South Carolina Daily Gazette, Bryant will be the fifth person to be executed in the state this year.

Bryant’s crime spree commenced on October 9, 2004, when he first killed his coworker, Clifton Gainey, before burglarizing his home. Just two days later, on October 11, he targeted 62-year-old Willard Tietjen in his own home. Tietjen was not only shot but also subjected to torture as his face and eyes were burned with cigarettes.

The brutality didn’t end there, as Bryant left chilling messages scrawled in blood on the walls of Tietjen’s home, with one reading, “victim number four in two weeks, catch me if you can.” Furthermore, Bryant went as far as answering Tietjen’s phone when family members called, callously informing them of the man’s demise.

Continuing his rampage, Bryant proceeded to kill 35-year-old Chris Burgess after a chance encounter at a convenience store, further solidifying his reign of terror in Sumter County. In 2008, Bryant pleaded guilty to these heinous crimes that shook the community to its core.

During court proceedings, Bryant’s defence argued that he had sought mental health counselling prior to the murders due to trauma from alleged childhood sexual abuse. His troubled past included institutionalization at the tender age of 11, coupled with a history of substance abuse involving methamphetamine, Benadryl, and marijuana laced with insecticide.

In a 2011 appeal denial by the South Carolina Supreme Court, it was acknowledged that Bryant was undeniably a deeply troubled individual, shedding a grim light on the darkness that consumed him during his murderous spree. As the execution date looms closer, the families of the victims seek closure and justice for the loved ones they so tragically lost.

The impending execution of Stephen Corey Bryant serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of violent crimes on communities and families. It underscores the importance of seeking justice for the victims and holding perpetrators accountable for their heinous actions. As the legal process unfolds, the memory of William Tietjen, Clifton Gainey, and Christopher Burgess lives on, immortalised in the pursuit of justice for their untimely and unjust deaths.