Starke, FL — After more than 46 years, a measure of justice has been served in the tragic case of Minnie Ruth McCollum, whose life was brutally taken on August 15, 1988. Richard Barry Randolph, convicted of sexual battery and first-degree murder in her case, was pronounced dead at 6:12 p.m. at Florida State Prison near Starke, bringing a long and painful chapter to a close.

Minnie Ruth McCollum’s life was cruelly cut short, leaving a scar on her family, friends, and the community that continues to remember her with sorrow and reverence. Though decades have passed, the memory of her vibrant spirit and the tragedy of her death have remained vivid in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.

Randolph’s death marks the final chapter in a legal journey that spanned nearly half a century, offering a somber sense of closure for a case that has haunted many. Yet, while justice has been carried out, the loss of Minnie Ruth McCollum remains a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the enduring impact of violence on a community.

Today, we honor Minnie Ruth McCollum, not only as a victim of a heinous crime but as a person whose life mattered, whose memory deserves to be held close, and whose story reminds us all of the human cost behind headlines and courtrooms. As the world reflects on this case, we remember her, mourn her, and vow never to forget.

Her life, though taken too soon, leaves behind a legacy of remembrance and a call to honor and protect one another. Minnie Ruth McCollum will forever be remembered.