Who is Richard Barry Randolph? Florida Inmate Set for Execution Over 1988 Palatka Murder

Richard Barry Randolph, aged 63, has been scheduled for execution by lethal injection on November 20, 2025, at Florida State Prison. The death warrant was signed on Tuesday by Governor Ron DeSantis, who has now authorized more executions this year than any Florida governor since the death penalty’s reinstatement in 1976.

Randolph’s execution would mark the 17th in Florida in 2025, following a record pace of death penalty enforcements under DeSantis.

The 1988 Palatka Murder Case

According to official court records, the crime occurred in August 1988 at a Handy-Way convenience store in Palatka, Florida, where Randolph had previously worked. He reportedly attempted to break into the store’s safe but was confronted by the manager, Minnie Ruth McCollum.

During the confrontation, Randolph beat, strangled, stabbed, and raped McCollum before fleeing in her car. The brutal attack left the store in chaos.

Three women nearby witnessed Randolph leaving the store and alerted the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies arrived to find McCollum still alive but severely injured. She was transported to a hospital, where she died six days later from brain injuries.

Arrest and Conviction

Randolph was arrested shortly after the attack in Jacksonville, where he was attempting to cash in stolen lottery tickets and borrow money. Police said he confessed to the crime and led investigators to the bloody clothes he had discarded.

He was convicted in 1989 of first-degree murder, armed robbery, sexual battery, and grand theft, and was sentenced to death.

Recent Developments and Legal Appeals

Randolph’s scheduled execution is part of Florida’s renewed push for capital punishment enforcement. His attorneys are expected to file last-minute appeals to both the Florida Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court in an attempt to halt the execution.

This comes after the October 14 execution of Samuel Lee Smithers, convicted of killing two women, and ahead of the November 13 execution date set for Bryan Fredrick Jennings.

A Record Year for Florida Executions

Governor DeSantis’ administration has carried out 16 executions so far in 2025, breaking the previous state record of eight in 2014. Nationwide, 39 executions have been conducted in the U.S. this year, signaling one of the highest death penalty enforcement rates in recent years.

Richard Barry Randolph’s case remains one of Florida’s most chilling and long-standing capital cases. As the November 20 execution date approaches, the case has once again drawn attention to the state’s aggressive use of the death penalty and ongoing debates surrounding capital punishment in America.