Attorney General Lynn Fitch, filed on behalf of the State of Mississippi, has moved to set the execution date for Thomas Loden Jr. within the next 28 days.
Loden was found guilty of capital murder, rape, and four counts of sexual battery for kidnapping, repeatedly raping, and strangling 16-year-old Leesa Marie Gray to death after discovering her stranded on the side of the road. He pled guilty to all six charges and waived his right to a trial by jury.
In addition to receiving a death sentence by the Itawamba County Circuit Court, Loden was also sentenced to 30 years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections for rape and 30 years for each of his four sexual battery convictions.
After Loden exhausted all state and federal remedies to deter his conviction, the AG is now asking the State Supreme Court to set an execution date.
