Florida has set an execution date for Richard Barry Randolph, a death row inmate convicted in the 1988 killing of a convenience store manager. The Florida Supreme Court denied Randolph’s latest appeals in mid-November 2025, clearing the way for his execution by lethal injection on November 20, 2025, according to NBC News.
Randolph’s case has spanned nearly four decades, from a violent robbery attempt in Palatka, Florida, to a capital conviction and years of post-conviction litigation. As the date approaches, here’s a clear breakdown of the events, the conviction, and what’s next in the case.
What Happened In The 1988 Handy-Way Case
In August 1988, Randolph returned to a Handy-Way convenience store in Palatka where he had previously worked. According to court records cited by NBC News, he attempted to break into the store’s safe during off-hours.
The store’s manager, Minnie Ruth McCollum, encountered Randolph inside. When she tried to stop him, he overpowered her, assaulted her, and fled the scene in her car. Investigators later described the incident as a robbery-turned-homicide that left the store in disarray.
Three women reported seeing Randolph leaving the location and called authorities after noticing the state of the store. A responding deputy found McCollum still alive but gravely injured. She was transported to a hospital, where she remained in a coma and died six days later from her injuries.
Randolph’s arrest came soon after. Police located him at a Jacksonville grocery store, where he was attempting to borrow money and cash in lottery tickets that investigators say were taken from the Handy-Way. During questioning, authorities said Randolph admitted to attacking McCollum and directed them to clothing he wore during the incident.
Arrest, Conviction, And Decades Of Appeals
Randolph was charged with first-degree murder, armed robbery, sexual battery, and grand theft. In 1989, a Florida jury convicted him on all counts, and he was sentenced to death. The conviction rested on the evidence collected at the scene, witness accounts placing him leaving the store, and his own statements to investigators.
Over the ensuing decades, Randolph pursued the full slate of appeals available to Florida death row inmates, repeatedly challenging aspects of his conviction and sentence. Florida’s appellate courts upheld the verdict and penalty, and the case continued through state and federal review.
In mid-November 2025, the Florida Supreme Court denied Randolph’s latest efforts to avoid execution, per NBC News. With those legal avenues exhausted, the state set his execution for November 20, 2025, by lethal injection—the method currently used in Florida for carrying out capital sentences.
Randolph’s case is notable for its length on death row, stretching from his 1989 sentence to 2025—nearly 36 years. Such timelines, while lengthy, are not uncommon in capital litigation, where multiple rounds of appeals are designed to ensure the integrity of the process and review of any potential constitutional claims.
When Is Richard Barry Randolph’s Execution?
Richard Barry Randolph is scheduled to be executed on November 20, 2025. His execution is part of a series of end-of-year dates set by the state. Florida has also scheduled two additional executions for December, including Mark Allen Geralds on December 9 and Frank Athen Walls on December 18, according to NBC News.
Florida has periodically issued multiple warrants in close succession, clustering execution dates as outstanding appeals conclude. With Randolph’s most recent legal challenges denied, the state moved forward in line with its usual protocols for capital cases.
McCollum’s death remains central to the case narrative. As the store’s manager, she attempted to stop a former employee from committing a crime on the job site—an intervention that cost her life. Randolph’s conviction affirmed that the incident began as a robbery attempt and escalated into a fatal attack, resulting in multiple felony counts in addition to the murder charge.
As the date nears, the focus returns to the facts established at trial and upheld on appeal: the Handy-Way break-in, the confrontation with McCollum, the witnesses who saw Randolph leaving, the recovery of stolen items, and the admissions investigators say he provided after his arrest.
Capital punishment remains one of the most scrutinized areas of the criminal justice system, but in Randolph’s case, the courts have repeatedly affirmed both the underlying conviction and the sentence. With the Florida Supreme Court’s latest decision, the long-running case moves into its final stage.
For now, the state’s schedule stands: Randolph on November 20, Geralds on December 9, and Walls on December 18. Any last-minute motions will be handled through the established courts, but based on the current rulings, Florida is set to carry out Randolph’s sentence as ordered.
