In September, Florida is set to carry out the executions of Harold Gene Lucas, Daniel Owen Conahan Jr., and Curtis W. Beasley. Should these proceed as planned, the state will have executed 16 individuals by the end of 2026.
According to a report from FOX 35 Orlando, these executions are scheduled for September 1, 10, and 29, involving murder cases dating from 1976 to 1996.
Harold Gene Lucas: Decades Awaiting Justice
First on the list is 74-year-old Harold Gene Lucas, slated for lethal injection on September 1. Lucas was convicted of the first-degree murder of 16-year-old Jill Piper and two attempted murders during an attack in Bonita Springs in August 1976.
Court records reveal that Lucas and Piper had a deteriorating romantic relationship leading up to the crime. Armed, Lucas went to Piper's home, shooting her and others present. Piper was fatally shot, while two others survived. Convicted in 1977, Lucas's death sentence endured numerous state and federal appeals, yet remained intact. Governor Ron DeSantis signed his execution order on July 30.
Daniel Owen Conahan Jr.: A Sinister Photo Offer
Daniel Owen Conahan Jr., aged 72, faces execution on September 10. He was found guilty of murdering and kidnapping 21-year-old Richard Montgomery in Charlotte County in April 1996.
The Florida Supreme Court documents reveal Montgomery had informed friends and family about a monetary offer to pose nude. Leaving to meet this person on April 16, he never returned. His body was discovered the next day in a wooded area, showing signs of strangulation and restraint. Conahan was linked to the crime and convicted of first-degree murder and kidnapping on August 17, 1999, receiving the death penalty on December 10 that year. The Florida Supreme Court upheld the conviction in 2003, and DeSantis authorized his execution on August 11. Authorities have suspected Conahan's involvement in other southwest Florida homicides.
Curtis W. Beasley: A Deadly Betrayal
The last scheduled execution is for 77-year-old Curtis W. Beasley on September 29. Beasley was convicted of murdering Carolyn Monfort in 1995 in Polk County. While temporarily staying at Monfort's home, where he was doing maintenance work on her managed apartments, Monfort was brutally killed.
Monfort's body was found in her laundry room by her daughter after two days without contact. She suffered severe head trauma, and a bloodied hammer head wrapped in dishcloths was found nearby. Court documents indicate the murder occurred on August 21, 1995. Beasley was found guilty in February 1998 and sentenced to death in May of that year, also facing charges of robbery and car theft. Throughout the investigation and trial, Beasley maintained his innocence. DeSantis signed his execution order on August 26.
Florida's Record-Breaking Execution Pace
These executions underscore Florida's rapid enforcement of capital punishment. On August 18, William Frances Silvia was executed for the murder of his estranged wife, marking the state's 13th execution in 2026. If Lucas, Conahan, and Beasley are executed as scheduled, they will be the 14th, 15th, and 16th, respectively, this year.
Florida's execution rate was already notable over the summer. On July 14, Dennis Michael Sochor, after nearly four decades on death row, was executed at 74. Shortly after, the state scheduled a rare double execution for late July, a first in over 60 years. James Aren Duckett and Dominick Anthony Occhicone were executed on July 28. Following Duckett's execution, Polk County authorities linked the former police officer to another 1987 teen murder, a crime for which he was never tried.
In 2025, Florida set a modern record with 19 executions, more than doubling its previous maximum of eight. By August 18, 2026, Florida had conducted 13 of the 23 executions in the United States, accounting for 57% of the national total, as per the Death Penalty Information Center.
Frequently Asked Questions About Florida's Execution Schedule
What crimes were Harold Gene Lucas, Daniel Owen Conahan Jr., and Curtis W. Beasley convicted of?
Harold Gene Lucas was convicted of the first-degree murder of Jill Piper and two attempted murders. Daniel Owen Conahan Jr. was found guilty of the murder and kidnapping of Richard Montgomery. Curtis W. Beasley was convicted of murdering Carolyn Monfort.
How many executions has Florida conducted in 2026?
By the end of 2026, Florida is expected to have carried out 16 executions if the scheduled ones proceed as planned, making it the state with the highest execution rate in the United States for that year.
Why is Florida's execution rate significant?
Florida's execution rate is significant because it accounts for over half of all executions in the United States in 2026. The state has maintained a rapid pace, setting modern records for the number of executions.