Florida has executed more prisoners on death row in a single year than any other state in the US – Governor Ron DeSantis ordered the 18th execution and has approved the 19th for next week
Florida has set a new record for executions with Mark Allen Geralds being the 18th put to death in the state this year with another set to die by lethal injection next week.
Geralds, 58, was put to death over the fatal stabbing of Tressa Pettibone during a bungled home invasion on February 1, 1989. Her 8-year-old son arrived at their Panama City home from school later that day to find his mum dead.
Geralds was pronounced dead at 6:15pm on Tuesday after Florida executioners administered a three-drug injection, the standard for the state. He is the latest death row prisoner to be executed in Florida, which has sentenced more than three times as many people than the next three states with the highest number of executions combined.
Texas, Alabama and South Carolina have each ordered five executions this year, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. Tennessee, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Indiana and Arizona have executed two prisoners each this year while Louisiana and Missouri have ordered one each so far in 2025.
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Mark Allen Geralds, 58 – December 9
Crime: Sentenced over the fatal stabbing of Tressa Pettibone in February, 1989
Years on death row: 35 years
Last meal: Declined
Details from execution: Killed using 3-drug lethal injection (beginning with Etomidate), no visitors
Last words: “I’m sorry that I missed you. I loved you every day.”
Malik Abdul-Sajjad (aka Richard Barry Randolph) – November 20
Crime: Rape and murder of Minnie Ruth McCollum, 62, in August, 1988
Years on death row: 36
Last meal: Cheeseburger with chips, eggs, soda pop and ice cream
Details from execution: Killed using 3-drug lethal injection (beginning with Etomidate)
Last words: None
Bryan Frederick Jennings, 67 – November 13
Crime: Rape and murder of 6-year-old girl in May, 1979
Years on death row: 39
Last meal: Cheeseburger and chips with a soda
Details from execution: Killed using 3-drug lethal injection (beginning with Etomidate)
Last words: “No”
Norman Mearle Grim Jr, 65 – October 28
Crime: Rape and murder of Cynthia Campbell in July, 1998
Years on death row: 24
Last meal: Fried pork chops and mashed potatoes with a chocolate milkshake
Details from execution: Killed using 3-drug lethal injection (beginning with Etomidate)
Last words: “No, sir.”
Samuel Lee Smithers, 72 – October 14
Crime: Murders of sex workers Denise Roach and Christy Cowan in May, 1996
Years on death row: 26
Last meal: Fried chicken, fried fish, a baked potato, apple pie with vanilla ice cream and a sweet tea
Details from execution: Killed using 3-drug lethal injection (beginning with Etomidate)
Last words: “No, sir”
Victor Tony Jones, 64 – September 30
Crime: Murders of Jack and Dolly Nestor in December, 1990
Years on death row: 32
Last meal: Fried chicken, collard greens and sweet tea
Details from execution: Killed using 3-drug lethal injection (beginning with Etomidate)
Last words: Declined
David Joseph Pittman, 63 – September 17
Crime: Killing estranged wife’s sister and parents before setting their house on fire
Years on death row: 34
Last meal: Fried chicken, steak and US biscuits
Details from execution: Killed using 3-drug lethal injection (beginning with Etomidate)
Last words: “I know you all came to watch an innocent man be murdered by the state of Florida. I am innocent. I didn’t kill anybody. That’s it.”
Curtis Windom, 59 – August 28
Crime: Killings of Johnnie Lee, Valerie Davis and Mary Lubin in November, 1992
Years on death row: 33
Last meal: Ribs, baked beans, collard greens, potato salad, pie, ice cream and a soda
Details from execution: Killed using 3-drug lethal injection (beginning with Etomidate)
Last words: Unintelligible
Kayle Barrington Bates (aka Maud Dib Al Sharif Qu’un), 67 – August 19
Crime: Murder and kidnapping of Janet White in June, 1982
Years on death row: 42
Last meal: Declined
Details from execution: Killed using 3-drug lethal injection (beginning with Etomidate)
Last words: Declined
Edward J. Zakrzewski II, 60 – July 31
Crime: Murder of wife Sylvia and two children aged 7 and 5 in 1994
Years on death row: 29
Last meal: Fried pork chops, root beer and ice cream
Details from execution: Killed using 3-drug lethal injection (beginning with Etomidate)
Last words: “I want to thank the good people of the Sunshine State for killing me in the most cold, calculated, clean, humane, efficient way possible. I have no complaint.”
Michael Bernard Bell, 54 – June 25
Crime: Fatal shooting of two people outside a bar in 1993
Years on death row: 30
Last meal: Omelette, bacon, chips and an orange juice
Details from execution: Killed using 3-drug lethal injection (beginning with Etomidate)
Last words: “Thank you for not letting me spend the rest of my life in prison.”
Thomas Lee Gudinas, 51 – June 14
Crime: Rape and murder of Michelle McGrath in May 1994
Years on death row: 30
Last meal: Pepperoni pizza, chips and a soda
Details from execution: Killed using 3-drug lethal injection (beginning with Etomidate)
Last words: Inaudible – said to have made a reference to Jesus
Anthony Wainwright, 54 – June 10
Crime: Rape and murder of Carmen Gayheart in April 1994
Years on death row: 29
Last meal: Declined
Details from execution: Killed using 3-drug lethal injection (beginning with Etomidate)
Last words: “My beautiful wife Samantha, you are the love of my life. I’m so blessed we found each other. The years we have spent together have been beyond wonderful. They’ve been downright magical. Love is stronger than death, and I know our love will last for eternity. I wanted to thank everyone who has supported my wife, Samantha, and I. It has truly been overwhelming. It has meant so much to us both.”
Glen Edward Rogers, 62 – May 15
Crime: Murders of Mark Peters, Sandra Gallagher, Linda Price, Tina Marie Cribbs and Andy Sutton
Years on death row: 27
Last meal: Pizza, chocolate and soda
Details from execution: Killed using 3-drug lethal injection (beginning with Etomidate)
Last words: “President Trump, keep making America great. I’m ready to go.”
Jeffrey Hutchinson, 62 – May 1
Crime: Murder of girlfriend Renee Flaherty and her three children Geoffrey, 9, Amanda, 7 and Logan 4 in September, 1998
Years on death row: 24
Last meal: Salmon, mahi-mahi, asparagus, baked potato and iced tea
Details from execution: Killed using 3-drug lethal injection (beginning with Etomidate)
Last words: Declined
Michael Anthony Tanzi, 48 – April 9
Crime: Murder of Janet Acosta in April, 2000
Years on death row: 22
Last meal: Pork chops, bacon, ice cream and a chocolate bar
Details from execution: Killed using 3-drug lethal injection (beginning with Etomidate)
Last words: “I want to apologise to the family.”
Edward Thomas James, 63 – March 20
Crime: Rape and murder of Tonie Marie Neuner, 8, and her grandmother Elizabeth Ann Dick in September 1993
Years on death row: 29
Last meal: Fried catfish, potato salad, hush puppies, cookies, soda and a coffee
Details from execution: Killed using 3-drug lethal injection (beginning with Etomidate)
Last words: Declined
James Ford, 64 – February 13
Crime: Murders of Greg Malnory and his partner Kimberly Malnory in April, 1997
Years on death row: 26
Last meal: Steak, macaroni and cheese, fried okra, sweet potato, pumpkin pie and sweet tea
Details from execution: Killed using 3-drug lethal injection (beginning with Etomidate)
Last words: Declined
Upcoming: Frank Athen Walls – December 18
Crime: Murders of Tommie Lou, 19, Cynthia Sue Condra, 24, and Audrey Gygi, 47 between March 185 and May 1987
Years on death row: 38
