Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch is seeking an execution date for Charles Ray Crawford, who has been on death row for 30 years after being convicted of the 1993 kidnapping and murder of Kristy Ray. Crawford's legal team argues that this request is premature as they intend to appeal his case to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Central to the ongoing legal battle is Crawford's prior rape conviction, which was used as an aggravating factor in his death sentence. His lawyers are challenging this conviction, arguing before the Supreme Court after a recent unfavorable ruling from a lower court. Crawford maintains he has no memory of the crimes, claiming he experienced blackouts during both the murder of Ray and the earlier assault and rape incidents.

Crawford was arrested shortly before his trial for assaulting another woman with a hammer. He was subsequently convicted in that case and a separate trial for the rape of a 17-year-old girl. In both instances, Crawford claimed memory loss due to blackouts.

Crawford's most recent appeal centered on claims of ineffective assistance from his previous lawyers regarding an insanity defense. He underwent a mental evaluation at a state hospital, but the trial judge repeatedly denied requests for an independent mental health professional to assist in his defense. While the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected this appeal, dissenting judges highlighted the inadequacy of Crawford's insanity defense and cited a neurologist's opinion that Crawford's seizure disorder may have impacted his understanding of his actions.

Despite multiple appeals throughout his case, Attorney General Fitch asserts that Crawford has exhausted all legal avenues and is pushing for an execution date. However, Crawford's current legal team insists that further appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court are forthcoming, specifically targeting the recent appeals court decision.