STARKE, Fla. (RTW News) — Richard Barry Randolph, a man who was convicted of brutally raping and murdering his former manager at a Florida convenience store back in 1988, is scheduled to be executed via lethal injection starting at 6 p.m. today at Florida State Prison. Randolph, now 63, was sentenced to death in 1989 after a jury found him guilty of charges including murder, armed robbery, and sexual battery.
This execution marks a significant point in Florida's judicial history, as it will be the 17th death sentence carried out in 2025, extending the state’s record for executions in a single year.
Court records indicate that Randolph attempted to break into a safe at the Handy-Way convenience store in Palatka, where he had previously been employed. In August 1988, during the attempted robbery, he was confronted by the store manager, Minnie Ruth McCollum. Their ensuing struggle escalated tragically; Randolph assaulted McCollum, inflicting severe injuries that would lead to her death six days later.
Eyewitnesses alerted law enforcement after witnessing the aftermath of the struggle. A responding deputy found McCollum alive but in a coma; doctors later confirmed she died due to traumatic brain injuries.
Randolph was captured shortly after the attack when he was spotted by officers attempting to cash in stolen lottery tickets and borrow money at a local grocery store. Following his arrest, he confessed to the crimes, leading investigators to evidence including a discarded bloody shirt.
The Florida Supreme Court recently rejected Randolph's appeals for a stay of execution, denying claims that his defense had not acted in his best interest. Additionally, the U.S. Supreme Court denied his final appeal this morning.
A total of 43 individuals have been executed in the U.S. thus far in 2025, with Florida leading the country. The state executed more people this year than any other, with additional executions planned before the end of the year, including two more in December. Florida's lethal injection protocol involves a combination of a sedative, a paralytic, and a heart-stopping drug.
This execution marks a significant point in Florida's judicial history, as it will be the 17th death sentence carried out in 2025, extending the state’s record for executions in a single year.
Court records indicate that Randolph attempted to break into a safe at the Handy-Way convenience store in Palatka, where he had previously been employed. In August 1988, during the attempted robbery, he was confronted by the store manager, Minnie Ruth McCollum. Their ensuing struggle escalated tragically; Randolph assaulted McCollum, inflicting severe injuries that would lead to her death six days later.
Eyewitnesses alerted law enforcement after witnessing the aftermath of the struggle. A responding deputy found McCollum alive but in a coma; doctors later confirmed she died due to traumatic brain injuries.
Randolph was captured shortly after the attack when he was spotted by officers attempting to cash in stolen lottery tickets and borrow money at a local grocery store. Following his arrest, he confessed to the crimes, leading investigators to evidence including a discarded bloody shirt.
The Florida Supreme Court recently rejected Randolph's appeals for a stay of execution, denying claims that his defense had not acted in his best interest. Additionally, the U.S. Supreme Court denied his final appeal this morning.
A total of 43 individuals have been executed in the U.S. thus far in 2025, with Florida leading the country. The state executed more people this year than any other, with additional executions planned before the end of the year, including two more in December. Florida's lethal injection protocol involves a combination of a sedative, a paralytic, and a heart-stopping drug.
