Judge OKs execution of South Dakota man in 1993 slaying

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) – A South Dakota judge has signed off on the execution of a man convicted of stabbing a former co-worker to death during a doughnut shop burglary in 1993.

Judge Robert Mandel granted a motion Tuesday for a November execution for Charles Rhines.

Rhines was convicted of stabbing 22-year-old Donnivan Schaeffer to death while burglarizing a Rapid City doughnut shop.

Peggy Schaeffer says the green light for Rhines’ execution is a big step toward justice for her son.

Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg argued for proceeding with the execution, noting that Rhines has been fighting the case five years longer than his victim was alive. The U.S. Supreme Court announced in April it wouldn’t consider Rhines’ case.

AP-WF-06-26-19