Florida executes man in 1993 slaying of college student

STARKE, Fla. — Florida executed a man Thursday who was convicted of raping and killing a college student in 1993 so he could steal her car.
The governor's office said Eric Scott Branch, 47, was pronounced dead at 7:05 p.m. Thursday after a lethal injection at Florida State Prison. Branch was convicted of the rape and fatal beating of University of West Florida student Susan Morris, 21, whose naked body was found buried in a shallow grave near a nature trail.
Evidence in the case shows that Branch approached Morris after she left a night class on Jan. 11, 1993, so he could steal her red Toyota and return to his home state of Indiana. He was arrested while traveling there.
In denying one of Branch's appeals, the Florida Supreme Court noted that the crime was particularly brutal.
"She had been beaten, stomped, sexually assaulted and strangled. She bore numerous bruises and lacerations, both eyes were swollen shut," the justices wrote.

Source:  nbcnews