Florida: Loran Cole executed – despite massive abuse at notorious reform school
On Thursday evening, 57-year-old Loran Kenstley Cole was executed by lethal injection in the US state. He was sentenced to death for the murder of a student during a camping trip and the rape of his sister in 1994. His accomplice is serving a life sentence.
Cole stated that he did not kill the student and pointed out that the murder weapon was found on his accomplice and had his fingerprints on it.
Cole had already had a drug problem at the age of 12 and was later, according to his defense attorneys, a survivor of the notorious Dozier School for Boys, a “reform school” for difficult-to-educate youths that was closed in 2011. Founded in 1900, the institution became known for the most severe abuse of the young people entrusted to it.
During his time at the Dozier School, Cole claimed to have been raped by a guard and beaten at least twice a week. One escape attempt resulted in two of Cole’s legs being broken by the staff.
Ironically, less than four weeks before the execution order for Loran Cole was issued, Governor Ron DeSantis had just approved millions of dollars in compensation for the victims of abuse at Dozier.
Cole’s attorneys also argued that the lethal injection could cause “unnecessary pain and suffering” because their client suffered from Parkinson’s disease.
Cole waived spiritual counseling and last words, but spent time with his 36-year-old son on the day of his execution. He had visited him 10 days earlier with his mother, who said she hoped for a miracle so that Cole would not be executed.