In a significant development, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed the death warrant for Loran Cole, a man convicted of a heinous crime committed nearly three decades ago. Cole, 57, is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection on August 28 at Florida State Prison.
1994 National Forest crime
The crime dates back to 1994 when Cole and an accomplice, William Paul, targeted two college students camping in the Ocala National Forest. The students, adult siblings, were befriended by Cole and Paul around a campfire. The men then lured the siblings away from their campsite under the pretense of showing them a nearby pond. According to court records, once away from the campsite, Cole and Paul ambushed the siblings and robbed them. The brother, 18, was brutally beaten and left dead in the forest. His sister, 21, was taken back to the campsite, where Cole tied her up and raped her.
The sister eventually freed herself and flagged down a passing driver for help. Police later found her brother’s body face down on the ground, suffering from head trauma and a slit throat.
Execution date set
After years of legal proceedings, Cole’s execution date has now been set, bringing a sense of closure to a case that has haunted the victims’ families and the community for years. Governor DeSantis’ signing of the death warrant marks the final step in the legal process for Cole, who will face justice for his brutal crimes.