South Carolinians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (SCADP) Speaks Out Against Stephen Stanko’s Scheduled Execution

On May 16, 2025, the South Carolina Supreme Court issued an execution warrant for Stephen Stanko. He is scheduled to be executed on June 13, 2025.

A Statement from Executive Director, Rev. Hillary Taylor:

"SCADP is categorically against all executions, including the execution of Stephen Stanko. His case demonstrates the death penalty’s well-documented use against people with brain damage. The problems resulting from his brain damage are well controlled in the structured environment of prison. Mr. Stanko has not been a danger to prison staff or other inmates while on the row. He has productively used his incarceration to repent of his crimes, seek God’s forgiveness, help other inmates, and write about his experiences.

South Carolina has now scheduled its 6th execution in 9 months, but the death penalty has not made our state any safer. In fact, it has created more pain and trauma because of the latest botched firing squad execution. If we can’t trust the state to deliver our mail on time, why are we trust the state with a firing squad? It would be better to take all of our state’s resources used to kill people who are already incarcerated and spend it on essential services for murder victim family members.

We call on Governor McMaster to be a truly pro-life governor, stop this execution, and change his sentence to any alternative prison term.”

The mission of South Carolinians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (SCADP) is to abolish the death penalty and catalyze criminal justice reform in South Carolina.

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