The state of Georgia is set to carry out its only execution of 2026 within hours, despite more than 30 prisoners currently on death row.
The crime
Stacey Humphreys, 53, was convicted of the 3 November 2003 killings of Cyndi Williams, 33, and Lori Brown, 21. According to the case against him, Humphreys entered the women's real estate office, forced them to provide their bank PINs, and shot them both. Investigators also found evidence suggesting both women had been strangled, with around $3,000 subsequently taken from their accounts. He has remained on death row for nearly 20 years.
The legal loophole explained
Despite dozens of prisoners awaiting execution in Georgia, complex litigation dating back to the Covid-19 pandemic has caused significant delays across the system. A legal agreement temporarily prevented the state from seeking execution warrants for nine specific death row prisoners, and while some restrictions tied to that agreement have since been lifted, legal obstacles remain in place for those individuals. Humphreys was not among the nine prisoners covered by that agreement, meaning prosecutors were able to pursue an execution warrant against him independently, putting his case on a separate legal track and clearing the way for his execution to proceed while others remain delayed.
His final meal request
Unlike several other US states, Georgia does not impose spending limits or restrictions on final meal requests. Humphreys has requested barbecue beef brisket, pork ribs, a bacon double cheeseburger, french fries, buffalo wings, and a meat lovers pan pizza, followed by butter pecan and peach ice cream, along with two caffeine-free sodas.
Where other states stand
Several states, including California and Ohio, currently have executive holds in place preventing executions from taking place at all.
