Execution date set in August for Florida man responsible for murder and rape in a national forest in 1994

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A Florida man who kidnapped adult siblings camping in a national forest in 1994, then raped the sister and murdered the brother, is scheduled to be executed next month.

Governor Ron DeSantis signed the death sentence for Loran Cole on Monday. Cole, 57, is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection at the Florida State Penitentiary on August 28.

Cole and a friend, William Paul, befriended the two college students while they were camping in the Ocala National Forest. After chatting around a campfire, the men offered to take the siblings to a pond. While they were away from the campsite, Cole and Paul ambushed and robbed the victims, court records state.

The 18-year-old brother was beaten and left in the woods. His 21-year-old sister was taken back to the campsite, where Cole tied her up and raped her. She eventually managed to free herself and flag down a driver who asked her for help. According to court documents, police found her brother’s body lying face down on the ground with head injuries and a slit throat.

Paul and Cole were convicted of first-degree murder. Paul was sentenced to life in prison. Cole, who was also convicted of two counts of rape, was sentenced to death.

It would be the first execution in Florida since Michael Zack was executed last October for the murder of Ravonne Smith in 1996.