Court upholds death sentence for Kentucky inmate Karu White

A federal court has upheld the death sentence for Karu Gene White, Kentucky's longest-held death row inmate. White was convicted in 1980 for the brutal murders of three senior citizens during a robbery in Breathitt County. The victims were Charles and Lula Gross, both in their 70s, and 79-year-old Sam Chaney. They were killed while working in their general store in 1979. Attorney General Russell Coleman announced the ruling, emphasizing its importance for the victims' families. "This violent criminal committed these horrific murders more than 40 years ago," he stated. The court rejected White's appeal on Friday, confirming the jury's original verdict. Currently, it is unclear when White's execution will take place. Kentucky has not carried out any executions since 2010, due to legal issues surrounding the state's lethal injection procedure. In October, the Kentucky Supreme Court dismissed a request from Coleman to resume executions, citing revised rules that some had expected would address safety concerns. Mary Lou Herald, granddaughter of two of the victims, expressed her hopes for justice after decades. She stated that her family is grateful for the persistence of the Attorney General's office to ensure her grandparents were not forgotten. White is among 25 inmates currently on death row in Kentucky, where the last execution occurred in 2008.