The execution of Mikal Mahdi, convicted of two 2004 murders, has sparked outrage after forensic experts and witnesses claim that his firing squad execution on April 11, 2025, was a “botched” procedure. According to Dr. Jonathan Arden, a forensic pathologist hired by Mahdi’s defense team, the execution was mishandled, leaving Mahdi conscious and in severe pain for up to a minute after being shot.
Expert Claims Botched Execution
Dr. Arden’s analysis of the autopsy findings revealed that only two of the firing squad’s bullets struck Mahdi, both hitting him below the heart, rather than the intended three shots aimed at the heart. This misfire led to a prolonged death process, according to Arden. The heart’s partial damage allowed for continued circulation, suggesting that Mahdi may have remained conscious for up to 60 seconds after the shots were fired.
Witnesses reported hearing Mahdi cry out after the shots were fired, and observed further groans and moans as the execution dragged on, lasting up to 75 seconds in total before his final breath.
Legal Challenges and Claims of ‘Cruel and Unusual Punishment’
Mahdi’s attorneys have filed a lawsuit challenging the legal precedent set by the Owens v. Stirling case, which ruled that firing squad executions are humane when properly conducted. They argue that Mahdi’s execution violated the Eighth Amendment’s protection against “cruel and unusual punishment.” Dr. Arden’s findings suggest that the execution was not only botched but failed to meet medical and constitutional standards for a humane death.
The autopsy report for Mahdi, compared to that of Brad Sigmon—the first inmate executed by firing squad in South Carolina—revealed significant discrepancies. While Sigmon’s autopsy showed three distinct bullet wounds with a destroyed heart, Mahdi’s report indicated poor execution with minimal damage to his heart and extensive injury to his liver and pancreas.
South Carolina’s Controversial Firing Squad Executions
This incident follows the first firing squad execution in South Carolina, which occurred in 2024, and sparked similar debates about the method’s reliability. Prison officials have remained tight-lipped about the details of the firing squad’s procedures, including training and methods, under a state shield law. However, the recent execution has raised questions about the execution’s transparency and the methods used to carry out capital punishment in the state.
Background on Mikal Mahdi’s Crimes
Mahdi was sentenced to death after admitting to the murder of off-duty police officer James Myers in South Carolina and convenience store clerk Christopher Boggs in North Carolina. On July 18, 2004, Mahdi murdered Captain James Myers, 56, of the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety. Myers was shot multiple times and burned in a shed on his property. Mahdi was later arrested after committing additional crimes, including a carjacking and stealing a police officer’s vehicle, before being apprehended in Florida.
