Florida Executes 13th Inmate This Year as Death Penalty Surges

As of September 30, 2025, Florida will witness the execution of its thirteenth inmate this year, marking a significant increase in capital punishment cases in the state. Victor Tony Jones, aged 64, is scheduled to enter the execution chamber at the Florida State Prison in Starke, where he will receive a lethal injection. This rate of executions surpasses any other year since the death penalty was reinstated nearly five decades ago.

Florida’s surge in executions has drawn attention both locally and nationally. According to Florida political analyst Gregg Birnbaum, the state is currently leading the nation in executions, reflecting a strong endorsement of capital punishment from Governor Ron DeSantis. Birnbaum noted, “Gov. Ron DeSantis likes Florida to be No. 1 – and when it comes to executions, we are leading the country this year.”

This year, Florida has executed a total of twelve men, far exceeding the previous record of eight executions in 2014. The state has executed three times as many inmates as its closest competitors, South Carolina and Texas. Nationwide, a total of thirty inmates have been executed in the United States so far this year, compared to twenty-five executions in 2024.

Victims and Crimes of the Condemned

Victor Tony Jones was sentenced to death in 1993 for two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of armed robbery. In December 1990, he fatally stabbed Matilda and Jacob Nestor during a robbery at their Miami business. Although severely wounded, Jacob Nestor managed to fire at Jones, striking him in the forehead. Police later found Jones at the scene with the Nestors’ belongings.

Jones is set to follow the execution of David Pittman, who was executed earlier this week for the 1990 murders of his estranged wife’s sister and parents. Pittman’s lawyers argued that he was intellectually impaired, but he maintained his innocence until his last words, declaring, “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.”

Following Jones, Samuel Lee Smithers is scheduled for execution on October 14, 2025. Smithers was sentenced to death for the dismemberment murders of two women in Plant City in 1996. Court records indicate that he met Christy Cowan and Denise Roach at a motel, where he later confessed to their murders.

Public Response and Political Context

Despite the increase in executions, public reaction has been muted, with minimal controversy surrounding the state’s actions. Birnbaum highlighted this lack of public interest, stating, “The uptick in executions here is occurring with minimal controversy.” While there have been occasional protests, including opposition from religious leaders, the overall support for the death penalty remains strong in Florida. Governor DeSantis has even expanded the scope of the death penalty to include certain sex crimes against children.

As Florida continues to execute inmates at a rapid pace, the implications of this trend extend beyond the state’s borders. Birnbaum commented that this renewed commitment to capital punishment reflects a shift in Florida’s political landscape, indicating a move towards more conservative policies.

The growing number of executions raises significant questions about the future of capital punishment in the United States, as states grapple with the moral, legal, and societal implications of such actions. With Florida’s current trajectory, it remains to be seen how this will influence both state and national attitudes toward the death penalty.