COLUMBIA — The U.S. Supreme Court declined Oct. 14 to review the death sentence of Stephen Bryant, which could lead to a November execution for the South Carolina inmate who admitted to killing three people in Sumter County 21 years ago.

Bryant, 44, was sentenced to death in 2008 after pleading guilty to killing Willard Tietjen, Clifton Gainey and Christopher Burgess during a crime spree in October 2004.

Bryant’s defense team argues that he is not eligible for capital punishment because of an intellectual disability. His appellate attorneys contend Bryant was born with brain damage because his mother abused alcohol and drugs while pregnant, mitigating evidence that they said his trial attorneys did not present to the judge who sentenced him to death.

His appellate team has brought up

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