This Thursday, Florida is poised to execute Curtis Windom, a 59-year-old man convicted for the murders of his girlfriend, her mother, and another man back in 1992 in the Orlando area. Windom will face lethal injection at the Florida State Prison, near Starke, following the U.S. Supreme Court's rejection of his final appeals on Wednesday.
This execution marks the eleventh of the year in Florida, setting a historic record and positioning the state as the leading executor in the United States in 2025. With Windom's execution, the total number of executions nationwide this year will reach 30, cementing the Sunshine State's forefront position in this rising trend, largely driven by multiple orders signed by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis.
Surge in Florida's Use of the Death Penalty
The next execution in the country is also slated for Florida: David Joseph Pittman, aged 63, is scheduled to be executed on September 17, further extending this unprecedented wave of capital punishment in the state.
A Crime That Shocked Orlando
Windom was sentenced to death for the murders of Johnnie Lee, Valerie Davis, and Mary Lubin on November 7, 1992. Court records reveal that on that day, a friend informed him that Lee, who allegedly owed him $2,000, had won money at a racetrack. Windom ominously responded, "You're going to read about me," hinting at his vengeful intentions.
During the trial, evidence showed Windom went to a Walmart, purchased a .38-caliber revolver and a box of 50 rounds, and soon after, set out to find Lee. He shot Lee twice in the back from his car and finished him off with two more point-blank shots. Following this initial attack, he proceeded to his girlfriend Valerie Davis's apartment, where he fatally shot her "without provocation" in front of a witness. Minutes later, he randomly wounded another man before encountering Mary Lubin, Valerie's mother, whom he killed with two shots as she stopped at a traffic light.
Legal Appeals and Controversies
Windom's lawyers have filed numerous appeals over the decades, arguing that evidence of his mental health issues was inadequately presented at trial and that his defense was marred by attorney incompetence. However, the Florida Supreme Court ruled that these omissions did not alter the case.
Additionally, prosecutors presented evidence that Windom was involved in drug trafficking and that Valerie Davis and her mother, Mary Lubin, were police informants, which bolstered the motive for the murders.
Florida at the Center of Death Penalty Debate
Since the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976, Florida has never executed as many people in a single year. The previous record of eight executions in 2014 has now been significantly surpassed. So far in 2025, Florida has executed more inmates than any other state, outpacing Texas and South Carolina, each with four.
The most recent execution occurred on August 19, when Kayle Bates, 67, was executed for the 1982 murder of a woman in Bay County. This crime, characterized by kidnapping, assault, and murder, kept the victim's family waiting for justice for over 40 years. Bates's execution was the tenth of the year, preceding Windom's, underscoring the acceleration of capital punishment processes under DeSantis's administration.
Criticism of Execution Methods
Florida conducts executions using a three-drug lethal injection protocol: a sedative, a paralytic agent, and a heart-stopping compound. This method has faced scrutiny from human rights organizations and medical experts, who warn of the potential for extreme suffering if not administered correctly.
Meanwhile, civil and religious groups have heightened their protests against what they call an "inhumane pace" of executions. The organization Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (FADP) condemned that "each execution dehumanizes us all," while Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski argued that a life sentence would be a severe yet humane punishment.
Contrasting National Trends
While Florida experiences an unprecedented surge in capital punishment, the rest of the country is moving in the opposite direction. Recent Gallup polls indicate that support for the death penalty is at one of its lowest points since the 1970s, with only 53% of Americans in favor, significantly below the peaks of 80% recorded in previous decades.
Despite the criticisms and campaigns against it, Florida continues on its chosen path. With Curtis Windom's execution, the state reaffirms its leadership role in capital punishment in 2025, marking a year that will be remembered for its high number of executions.
Understanding Florida's Execution Surge
Why is Florida leading in executions in 2025?
Florida is leading in executions this year due to a record number of death sentences carried out, largely driven by orders from Governor Ron DeSantis and the state's aggressive approach to capital punishment.
What are the main criticisms of Florida's execution methods?
The main criticisms focus on the three-drug lethal injection protocol, which has been questioned for the potential of causing extreme suffering if not properly administered, as well as the rapid pace of executions, deemed "inhumane" by various groups.
How does Florida's execution trend compare to the rest of the U.S.?
While Florida is experiencing a surge in executions, the rest of the U.S. is trending towards decreasing support for the death penalty, with public opinion at one of its lowest points in decades.