Murray County murder faces execution in 12 days

ATLANTA, Georgia (WDEF) – J.W. Ledford Jr. has been waiting almost 25 years to die.

Now he has just 12 days left, pending one more hearing.

Ledford was convicted in 1992 for stabbing a popular doctor, Dr. Harry Johnston, to death at his home in Murray County, Georgia.

He was a neighbor of the Johnston’s in Crandall.

Dr. Johnston’s wife testified at the trial that Ledford he showed up at their home, forced his way in with a knife.

She says he threatened to kill her, tied her up and took money and guns.

He left her in the house and went to pawn the weapons.

At some point, he came across the 73 year old doctor, and fatally stabbed him.

The attack was vicious, almost severing the victim’s head.

But Ledford argued it was in self defense when the doctor confronted him about stealing from him and hit him.

Now 24 years after the verdict, Ledford’s appeals have all been exhausted.

His only hope lies in one last clemency hearing before the parole board the day before the execution.

The execution is scheduled for Tuesday, May 16th.

He would be the first prisoner executed in Georgia this year.

But that follows a record nine executions last year.