Brad Keith Sigmon was an American convicted murderer executed for the brutal 2001 double homicide of his ex-girlfriend’s parents in South Carolina. Sigmon, who was sentenced to death for the murders of David and Gladys Larke, became the first person in the United States to be executed by firing squad since 2010 and the first in South Carolina’s modern history.
Sigmon was convicted of battering David, 62 and Gladys Larke, 59, to death with a baseball bat in their home on April 27, 2001, just a week after his relationship with their daughter ended. In addition to receiving two death sentences, Sigmon was given a 30-year prison term for first-degree burglary after stealing from the Larkes’ home on the day of the murders.
On March 7, 2025, Sigmon, 67, was executed by firing squad. According to South Carolina’s execution protocols, he was strapped to a specially designed chair, hooded and shot in the heart by three volunteer corrections officers. His execution marked the first use of the firing squad in the US since Ronnie Lee Gardner was executed in Utah in 2010.
Early life and background
Sigmon was born in South Carolina on November 12, 1957, as the eldest of five children. His mother, Virginia Wooten, was just 17 years old at the time of his birth and went on to have four more children in quick succession. His father, Ronnie Sigmon, served in the US military, leading to the family’s frequent relocations, including a period in the Philippines after the birth of Sigmon’s youngest sibling, according to Wikipedia.
Sigmon’s childhood was marked by instability. His parents eventually divorced when he was young, in part due to his father’s alcoholism and history of domestic abuse. While Ronnie Sigmon reportedly never harmed his younger children, he physically abused Brad, who often intervened to protect his mother from his father’s violent outbursts. Following their divorce, both parents remarried, and Sigmon frequently moved between their households throughout his upbringing.
Life before the murders
Before committing the murders, Sigmon was described as a hardworking and devoted older brother. According to his attorney, Gerald “Bo” King, Sigmon worked factory jobs as a teenager to help support his siblings. However, his life took a dark turn, culminating in the violent crime that led to his execution decades later.
Sigmon’s execution by firing squad reignited debates over capital punishment in the United States, particularly regarding execution methods and their moral and legal implications.