The case of William Henry Bell’s death row conviction (the 1989 murder of elementary school principal Dennis Hepler in Anderson County) is one of many cases where S.C. is finding it harder to justify retaining the death penalty. Bell was proven mentally disabled, and under the 8th amendment, cannot be sentenced to death. He’s awaiting resentencing.
In 1996, the U.S. death row rate hit its peak (315 inmates sent to death row) + in 1999, 98 inmates were executed in a year. Over the years, things have changed. In 2016, there were 30 death sentences + only 20 inmates executed.
Death sentences in S.C. have steadily declined since 1985. Between 2011-2016, there was only one new death sentence (in the case of Ricky Lee Blackwell, for the abduction + murder of an 8-year-old). The last execution in S.C. was in 2011 for a man who strangled his inmate.
Why less death sentencing? State-level polls found a decline in support for the death penalty across the country. People would rather see alternative sentences like life without parole.
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