Florida executes man convicted of killing college student, raping victim’s sister in national forest

Associated Press

STARKE, Fla. (AP) — A Florida man convicted of killing a college student and raping the murder victim’s older sister in a national forest 30 years ago has been executed. Loran Cole received a lethal injection Thursday evening at Florida State Prison for the 1994 killing of the 18-year-old man. Cole was also serving two life sentences for rape. Court records state Cole and another man befriended the siblings as they camped in the Ocala National Forest and then robbed them. The brother was beaten and had his throat slit. Authorities said the sister was raped and tied to a tree, but later got free and sought help. Cole’s friend received a life prison sentence.