COLUMBIA, S.C. — A South Carolina judge has determined that the death row inmate Steven Bixby is mentally competent to proceed with his execution, despite his claims that a majority of laws are unconstitutional and that individuals possess an unconditional right to defend their property, even to the point of lethal force.
This ruling allows the state to move forward with plans to execute Bixby for the shooting deaths of two police officers in December 2003. Bixby’s legal team may seek to appeal this decision. Previously, the state Supreme Court had suspended Bixby’s execution, directing a lower court to evaluate whether his beliefs affected his ability to assist in his legal defense as he sought to overturn his death sentence.
In his recent ruling, Judge R. Scott Sprouse emphasized Bixby’s active participation in discussions with both his defense attorneys and the psychiatrists who evaluated him. Although Bixby often disagrees with his attorneys and expresses distrust toward their strategy, Sprouse noted that evidence indicates Bixby comprehends the proceedings and maintains the ability to cooperate when he chooses.
Bixby, now 58, fatally shot Abbeville County Deputy Danny Wilson after the officer arrived to address a family dispute involving a construction crew. Following the shooting, Bixby and his family were alleged to have dragged Wilson’s body indoors and later killed State Constable Donnie Ouzts, leading to a protracted standoff during which hundreds of rounds were exchanged between law enforcement and the Bixbys. Bixby’s parents faced murder charges as well but died in custody before their trials could be completed.
During a recent hearing designed to assess Bixby’s mental competency, psychologists provided differing opinions. Experts retained by Bixby’s defense suggested that long-term incarceration had compounded his delusions and that he remains entrenched in a mindset resistant to change. However, testimonies from state-hired experts indicated that Bixby had a clear understanding of his legal situation, despite expressing anger towards certain findings. These psychologists suggested that Bixby is steadfast in his constitutional beliefs and views his potential execution as martyrdom.
A psychiatrist familiar with death row cases in South Carolina recounted Bixby expressing, “I’m not crazy. I’m not a mental health case. I may be an (expletive), but I’m not crazy.”
Following the competency hearing, Bixby submitted a handwritten note to the judge, reiterating his belief in his justification for killing Wilson and asserting that the judge would be committing treason if he allowed the execution to proceed. Bixby proclaimed, “I am an innocent man!! Let freedom ring & let those committing treason swing!!!” He further compared himself to Thomas Jefferson, claiming to stand firmly on principle, even in isolation.
This ruling marks a significant development in a long and complex legal saga, as Bixby’s case continues to draw attention regarding issues of mental health, legal rights, and the death penalty in South Carolina.
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