In a chilling turn of events, the Missouri Supreme Court has officially set an execution date for Brian Dorsey, a former resident of Jefferson City. Dorsey, who was convicted of the heinous murder of his cousin Sarah Bonnie and her husband Ben in 2006, is set to face his fate on April 9, 2024. The execution is scheduled to take place at 6 p.m. at the state prison in Bonne Terre.

This execution holds significant weight, as it marks the first one scheduled in Missouri for the year 2024. Missouri has proven to be one of the most active states in terms of executions, with four out of the total 24 executions in the United States taking place within its borders this year.

The horrifying crime committed by Dorsey unfolded on December 23, 2006, at the Bonnie family's residence near New Bloomfield. Prosecutors revealed that earlier that same day, Dorsey had contacted Sarah Bonnie, desperately seeking to borrow money in order to pay off two drug dealers who were at his apartment. It was on that fateful night that Dorsey made his way to the Bonnie's home. Under the cover of darkness, after the couple had retired to bed, he retrieved a shotgun from their garage and callously ended their lives. In a shocking and depraved act, he then sexually assaulted Sarah Bonnie's lifeless body.

The gruesome discovery was made by Sarah Bonnie's devastated parents the following day. Tragically, their 4-year-old daughter, who was also present at the time of the brutal attack, managed to escape unharmed. The Bonnie family was left shattered by the loss of their loved ones, forever scarred by the unimaginable brutality that occurred within the sanctuary of their own home.

In 2008, Dorsey initially pleaded guilty to the unspeakable crimes he had committed. However, he later appealed his death sentence, arguing that he should have instead been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. This appeal was ultimately denied by the Missouri Supreme Court in 2010, upholding the initial decision for the death penalty.

Years later, another appeal was filed on Dorsey's behalf, claiming that he was suffering from mental illness at the time of the murders and that his defense attorney had been ineffective. Once again, in 2014, the Missouri Supreme Court affirmed the death sentence, leaving no room for doubt regarding the severity of Dorsey's actions.

Missouri stands alongside Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, and Florida as one of the five states actively carrying out executions this year. These states have been at the forefront of capital punishment, and the setting of Dorsey's execution date emphasizes the continued commitment to upholding justice and delivering closure to the victims' families.

As the execution date draws near, the state and its residents are left grappling with the weight of this horrific crime. While the legal process has run its course, the scars left behind by Brian Dorsey's actions will forever serve as a reminder of the darkness that can inhabit the human soul.