Stephen Bryant is a South Carolina inmate sentenced to death for a 2004 Sumter County murder amid an eight-day crime spree that left three men dead and a fourth man shot but alive; he later taunted investigators by scrawling “victem 4 in 2 weeks – catch me if u can” in blood at one scene.
Stephen Bryant | Pic Credit – Wikipedia
American Murderer
Last updated: October 24, 2025
👉 Update — Execution by Firing Squad (November 14, 2025)
On November 14, 2025, South Carolina carried out the death sentence of Stephen Corey Bryant by firing squad at Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia. He had chosen the firing squad over lethal injection or the electric chair, the three methods allowed under state law. Three correctional officers, positioned behind a wall roughly 15 feet away, fired at a small white target with a red bullseye pinned to his chest; a prison doctor pronounced him dead at 6:05 p.m. Eastern. SC Daily Gazette+1
In the final 24 hours, there were no new court rulings. Earlier in the week, the South Carolina Supreme Court rejected his last appeal claiming fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, and Gov. Henry McMaster declined to intervene, allowing the warrant to stand. SC Daily Gazette+1 Outside the prison, roughly twenty protesters held a vigil as staff prepared the Capital Punishment Facility for the execution. SC Daily Gazette Inside, witnesses later reported that Bryant appeared calm; he briefly glanced at the 10 witnesses present — including members of Willard “TJ” Tietjen’s family — before a hood was placed over his head. He gave no final statement. After the volley, he took a few shallow breaths and spasmed once before being declared dead. SC Daily Gazette+1
Prison officials say his final meal, served Wednesday evening, was a large Asian-style spread: spicy mixed seafood stir fry and fried fish over rice, egg rolls, stuffed shrimp, duck in soy sauce, two Zero candy bars, German chocolate cake, and soft drinks. SC Daily Gazette+1 His attorney, Bo King, later said Bryant’s final wish was that no one be turned away from mental-health care simply because they cannot afford it — a pointed reference to his own failed attempts to get treatment before the 2004 killings. SC Daily Gazette+1
Stephen Bryant | South Carolina Death Row
Stats
- Full Name: Stephen Corey Bryant
- AKA: –
- Born: 1981 (approx.)
- Crimes: Three murders during an 8-day spree; burglary; armed robbery; arson; assault & battery with intent to kill (2004; Sumter & Richland Counties, SC)
- Victims (fatal): Clifton “Cliff” Gainey (36); Willard “T.J.” Tietjen Jr. (62); Christopher Burgess (24)
- Surviving victim: Clinton Brown (shot, survived)
- Arrested/Convicted: Arrested Oct. 13, 2004; pleaded guilty in 2008 (death sentence imposed for Tietjen; life sentences on the other murders)
- Sentence: Death plus consecutive life terms and additional time for related felonies
- Current Status: South Carolina death row (Broad River Secure Facility); execution scheduled for Nov. 14, 2025
Classification & Characteristics
Type: Spree/robbery-murderer whose crimes combined opportunistic theft with lethal violence.
Known For: A rapid sequence of shootings in rural South Carolina and a chilling taunt left in a victim’s blood. Bryant’s pattern reflects impulsive aggression, thrill-seeking, and grievance: striking acquaintances and vulnerable targets, then escalating into theatrical contempt for law enforcement. His later litigation focused on neurodevelopmental impairment claims, while his custody record shows a volatile but contained adjustment on death row.
Timeline of the Stephen Bryant Case →
- October 5, 2004 – Sumter County, SC: Bryant commits a burglary, marking the start of the spree. Wikipedia+1
- October 8, 2004 – Near the Wateree River (Richland County): Clinton Brown is shot and seriously wounded but survives, later helping investigators piece together events. Wikipedia+1
- October 9, 2004 – Rural Sumter County: Bryant shoots and kills co-worker Clifton “Cliff” Gainey (36), leaving him on a road and later burglarizing his home. Wikipedia+1
- October 11, 2004 – Wedgefield area, Sumter County: Bryant enters the home of Willard “T.J.” Tietjen Jr. (62), robs him, and fatally shoots him; investigators later find a message on the wall written with the victim’s blood: “victim 4 in 2 weeks – catch me if u can.” People.com+1
- October 13, 2004 (early a.m.) – Sumter County: After meeting Christopher Burgess at a convenience store, Bryant shoots him and leaves his body on a rural road. Wikipedia+1
- October 13, 2004 (later that day): Investigators recover evidence tying Bryant to the crimes; he is arrested without incident at a home in Wedgefield. Wikipedia+1
- September 11, 2008 – Sumter County: Bryant pleads guilty to three murders and related charges; the court sentences him to death for Tietjen’s murder and life sentences for Gainey’s and Burgess’s killings. Wikipedia+1
- January 7, 2011 – South Carolina Supreme Court: In State v. Bryant, the court affirms his convictions and sentences. Justia+1
- October 19, 2022 / October 19, 2022 (D.S.C.): Federal district court denies habeas relief; later post-judgment motions are denied. Justia Dockets & Filings+1
- January 27, 2025 – Fourth Circuit: In Bryant v. Stirling, the Fourth Circuit affirms denial of habeas, holding his intellectual-disability claim barred by state procedural rules and rejecting other claims. Justia+1
- October 14, 2025 – U.S. Supreme Court: SCOTUS denies certiorari, ending his federal appeals. Wikipedia+1
- October 17, 2025 – South Carolina Supreme Court: Issues a death warrant, scheduling execution for November 14, 2025. Wikipedia+1
- October 31, 2025 — Method selection: Bryant chooses execution by firing squad, becoming the third SC inmate to select this method since executions resumed in 2024. Wikipedia+2AP News+2
Case Summary
Stephen Corey Bryant is a South Carolina death row inmate who admitted to a 2004 eight-day killing spree in and around rural Sumter County that left three men dead and a fourth wounded. According to court records, Bryant shot Clifton Gainey, Willard “T.J.” Tietjen Jr., and Christopher Burgess in separate incidents, and left a taunting message in Tietjen’s home written in blood that challenged investigators to “catch” him. In 2008 he pleaded guilty to three counts of murder and multiple related felonies, receiving life sentences for two killings and a death sentence for Tietjen’s. After the South Carolina Supreme Court, federal courts, and the U.S. Supreme Court all upheld the result or declined further review, Bryant is now scheduled to be executed by firing squad on November 14, 2025.
→ Quick Answers
- Stephen Corey Bryant – South Carolina inmate who killed Clifton Gainey, Willard “T.J.” Tietjen Jr., and Christopher Burgess during an eight-day 2004 spree; also shot Clinton Brown, who survived. SC Daily Gazette
- Where now: SC Death Row, Broad River Secure Facility (Columbia, SC). Incarcerated Inmate Search
- Current legal stage: Pre-execution – warrant entered; execution date: Nov. 14, 2025 (method selection per SC law). https://www.wistv.com
- Appeals posture: State direct/post-conviction complete; federal habeas denied; Fourth Circuit affirmed (Jan. 27, 2025); SCOTUS petition pending (No. 25-5317). Justia Law+1
- Mandate issued: Fourth Circuit mandate issued with opinion; district court judgment stands. GovInfo
- Stay/Warrant/Window: Order setting Nov. 14, 2025 execution; no stay entered as of today (Oct. 29, 2025). Method choices in SC: lethal injection, electrocution, or firing squad (default electrocution if no timely selection). https://www.wistv.com+1
🕊️ Victims of Stephen Corey Bryant
- Clifton “Cliff” Gainey (36) – Found Oct. 9, 2004, on Belles Mill Road in rural Sumter County; shot to death during the spree’s early phase.
- Willard “T.J.” Tietjen Jr. (62) – Discovered Oct. 11, 2004, inside his home near Wedgefield; shot multiple times. Investigators found a message scrawled in blood: “victim 4 in 2 weeks – catch me if u can.” https://www.wistv.com+1
- Christopher Burgess (24) – Met the killer at a convenience store, then shot and left on a remote road in the early hours of Oct. 13, 2004; body recovered within hours. CaseMine
- Survivor – Clinton Brown – Shot near the Wateree River in Richland County on Oct. 8, 2004; escaped with his life and helped anchor the timeline. Justia Law
→ FAQs
Q1: Why did prosecutors seek death for only one of the murders?
A: Bryant received life sentences for the Gainey and Burgess killings. Prosecutors sought- and the court imposed – the death sentence for Tietjen’s murder, which included burglary of an occupied dwelling and a gruesome post-crime taunt. Fox News+1
Q2: What’s the status of Bryant’s intellectual-disability (Atkins/Hall) claim?
A: The Fourth Circuit held the claim was barred by independent and adequate state-law grounds, affirming the denial of federal habeas relief on Jan. 27, 2025. Justia Law
Q3: Who decides clemency in South Carolina?
A: The Governor alone can grant a reprieve or commute a death sentence to life; courts reaffirmed this in 2024 litigation. South Carolina Governor+1
Q4: What execution methods can Bryant choose?
A: Lethal injection, electrocution, or firing squad; by statute, electrocution is the default if no timely written choice is made. SC Daily Gazette – (On October 31, 2025, Bryant selected firing squad as his method.)
Stephen Bryant | South Carolina Death Row
Stephen Bryant | South Carolina Death Row | Execution Nov 2025
👉 The Story
A Week When Rural Roads Went Quiet
The first burglary on October 5, 2004 barely rippled across the countryside. But by the week’s end, three men were dead and one was clinging to life. Clinton Brown survived a shot near the Wateree River on October 8; the next day, Clifton “Cliff” Gainey was found dead on a dirt stretch of Sumter County. Patrol cars cruised washboard roads, church lights burned late, and folks kept porch lamps on as if illumination might turn back what was coming.
“Catch Me If You Can”
On October 11, inside Willard “T.J.” Tietjen’s quiet home near Wedgefield, the killer took his time -talking, rifling, and then shooting. When deputies arrived, candles ringed the body, and a kitchen potholder was dipped in blood to scrawl a message on the wall: “victim 4 in 2 weeks – catch me if u can.” It was theater, cruelty, and a dare.
One More Body, Then the Knock
Just after midnight on October 13, Christopher Burgess met his killer at a convenience store and never made it home. Hours later his body was found on a remote roadbed. That same day, with property from victims turning up in searches and tips pouring in, deputies arrested Stephen Corey Bryant in Wedgefield without a fight. The spree had lasted eight days.
Courtroom Confession and a Divided Sentence
In 2008, Bryant pleaded guilty to the murders and a raft of felonies. The judge imposed life sentences for the killings of Gainey and Burgess, and death for Tietjen’s murder – reflecting the home-invasion aggravator and the macabre scene Bryant staged.
Years of Litigation, One Date Certain
Appeals followed: the South Carolina Supreme Court affirmed; federal courts denied habeas relief; a Fourth Circuit panel closed the door on late Atkins/Hall claims. In October 2025, the state set Nov. 14, 2025 for Bryant’s execution. Absent a successful stay or clemency, the roads that once carried patrol cars will again carry official vehicles – this time to the death chamber.
LEGAL STATUS – PAPER TRAIL | Stephen Corey Bryant
- State Trial & Sentencing: Bryant pleaded guilty in 2008; on September 11, 2008, the court imposed death for Tietjen’s murder and life sentences plus additional terms for the other crimes. Wikipedia+1
- State Direct Appeal: In State v. Bryant, 26906 (Jan. 7, 2011), the South Carolina Supreme Court affirmed his convictions and sentences. Justia+1
- State Post-Conviction: PCR relief denied in Sumter County; the state supreme court denied certiorari on May 11, 2021. Supreme Court
- Federal Habeas (District Court): D.S.C. denied habeas relief (judgment October 19, 2022). Justia Dockets & Filings+1
- Fourth Circuit: Bryant v. Stirling, 126 F.4th 991 (4th Cir. 2025) – federal habeas denial affirmed January 27, 2025. Justia+1
- U.S. Supreme Court: Petition for certiorari (No. 25-5317) filed; cert denied October 14, 2025. Supreme Court+1
- Death Warrant & Method: SC Supreme Court issued a warrant October 17, 2025, setting execution for November 14, 2025; on October 31, 2025, Bryant selected firing squad as his method. Wikipedia+2AP News+2
📚 Additional Resources
- South Carolina Supreme Court opinion (facts & sentencing):
- State v. Bryant, 26906 (S.C. 2011) Justia
- Fourth Circuit habeas decision:
- Bryant v. Stirling, 126 F.4th 991 (4th Cir. 2025) Justia+1
- People / AP coverage of warrant, crimes, and method selection:
- He Killed 3 People – Then Taunted Investigators with Messages Written in Victims’ Blood People.com+1
📚 Further Reading / Watching
- Rita Shuler, Small-Town Slayings in South Carolina – true crime cases from the state’s smaller communities (good regional context). People.com+1
- Rita Shuler, South Carolina Killers: Crimes of Passion – includes multiple Midlands and Lowcountry murder cases. Wikipedia
- West & Lewis, A Courageous Fool: Marie Deans and Her Struggle Against the Death Penalty – broader look at capital punishment in the Carolinas. Wikipedia
- Watching (news / documentary-style pieces):
- WIS-TV / local broadcast: feature segments on Bryant’s scheduled execution and the 2004 spree (often mirrored on YouTube and station sites). People.com
- AP / national network clips: coverage of Bryant’s choice of firing squad and South Carolina’s modern execution methods. AP News+1
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Beyond the Gavel | Stephen Bryant
- Execution Date & Method: Nov. 14, 2025 (South Carolina). State law gives Bryant a written choice among lethal injection, electrocution, or firing squad; if he does not choose by the statutory deadline, electrocution is the default. https://www.wistv.com+1
- Clemency: In South Carolina, only the Governor can grant a reprieve or commute a death sentence to life imprisonment; the Board of Probation, Parole & Pardon may advise but does not decide. No modern-era governor has granted clemency in a capital case. South Carolina Governor+2Clemency Resource Clearinghouse+2
- Pending Filings: SCOTUS Petition No. 25-5317 remains pending as of Oct. 29, 2025 (Brief in Opposition filed Sept. 10, 2025). Any emergency stay would most likely be sought via a cert-stage stay application in the days before the execution. Supreme Court+1
- Custody Snapshot: SCDC lists Bryant on Death Row at Broad River Secure Facility; age 44; multiple consecutive terms accompany the death sentence. Incarcerated Inmate Search
