His execution began at 6:35 p.m. ET and he was pronounced dead 20 minutes later at 6:55 p.m. A South Carolina jury found Owens guilty of murdering Irene Grainger Graves, 41, a single mother of three whose son described her as a hard-working and fun mom in an interview with USA TODAY this week.

A death sentence for a South Carolina inmate was carried out on Friday following a 13-year pause on executions in the state, officials said.