An execution date has been set for a man convicted of murder in Jones County.
A news release from the Attorney General's Office says Daniel Anthony Lucas is scheduled to die by lethal injection on April 27th. He's convicted of murdering 11-year-old Bryan Moss, 15-year-old Kristin Moss and their father Steven Moss.
Lucas and Brandon Joseph Rhode burglarized the Moss home twice on April 23, 1998 before murdering the members of the Moss family.
Captain Jimmy Black with the Jones County Sheriff's Department remembers the day well.
Black says Lucas and Rhode broke into the Moss home.
While they were there, 11-year-old Bryan got home from school. Shortly after, 15-year-old Kristin arrived.
Then, their father, Steven Moss, came home.
“The killers fired multiple shots at all three victims,” Black said.
But Rhode and Lucas weren't finished.
“(They) went out to the car and retrieved firearms they had stolen at an earlier burglary and came in and shot each victim again,” Black said.
Gerri Ann Moss found her family when she came home.
“Two children and their father murdered and the mother walks in on that scene,” Black said.
At the time Sheriff Butch Reece said the killings affected everybody.
“Any murder is bad and you hate to see any human life taken. When children are involved, it's a lot different,” Reece said.
Black says the Moss family was connected to many people in Jones County.
“Some of us had children who went to school with the Moss children,” Black said.
He and other investigators worked four days straight to catch Rhode and Lucas.
“Both of whom were subsequently arrested that weekend and charged with the three murders,” Black said.
Both men were convicted and sentenced to die.
For Black, the case lives in the back of his mind and he says it always will.
“My file of notes have been in my desk drawer since that day,” Black said.
Rhode was put to death in 2010.
Lucas was sentenced to death in 1999.
He is scheduled to be the 42nd inmate to die of lethal injection in the state.