Missouri sets August execution for St. Louis man

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The Missouri Supreme Court has set an Aug. 6 execution for a St. Louis-area man convicted of raping and killing a neighbor nearly two decades ago.

Michael Shane Worthington was sentenced to death for the September 1995 slaying of 24-year-old college student Melinda Griffin at her Lake St. Louis condominium. According to court records, Worthington took drugs before cutting through a screen window at Griffin's home and attacking her.

Worthington was convicted of first-degree murder, rape and first-degree burglary. He is now 43 years old.

The court set the execution date Monday. Missouri has executed seven inmates since November and is scheduled to administer a lethal injection July 16 to inmate John Middleton.