Court returns ex-soldier to execution track

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — A former Fort Bragg soldier who killed four women and raped others more than 25 years ago is again headed for execution.

The Fayetteville Observer reported Ronald Gray last week lost a battle to keep in place a federal court’s order issued eight years ago blocking his execution.

The former Army cook’s death sentence would be the first for the U.S. military since 1961.

Gray was convicted and condemned in military court in 1988 for two murders and three rapes while stationed at Fort Bragg. He pleaded guilty in civilian courts to two more murders and five separate rapes.

Gray is being held at the military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kan.

Gray was scheduled to die in 2008 after President George W. Bush signed an execution order.