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Fox News
42 minutes ago
- Fox News
Florida breaks 50-year execution record with ninth death sentence carried out this year
A Florida man convicted of the 1994 killings of his wife and their two children was put to death on Thursday, marking the ninth execution in the Sunshine State this year and a state record for a single-year total since the death penalty was reinstated in the U.S. nearly 50 years ago. Edward Zakrzewski, 60, was pronounced dead at 6:12 p.m. at Florida State Prison near Starke after a three-drug injection, which consists of a sedative, a paralytic and a drug that stops the heart, according to the state Department of Corrections. "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," Zakrzewski said after the curtain to the death chamber went up shortly after 6 p.m. Zakrzewski was lying on a gurney covered with a white sheet when the drugs were administered. Before the drugs began flowing, he also quoted from a poem as 14 witnesses, as well as reporters and prison staff, looked on. Once the drugs were administered, Zakrzewski began breathing deeply, surrounded by three prison staffers in dark suits. One of them shook Zakrzewski by his shoulders and shouted his name, but there was no reaction and then he became still. On Thursday morning, Zakrzewski woke at 5:15 a.m. and later in the day had a meal that included fried pork chops, root beer and ice cream, according to state Department of Corrections spokesman Paul Walker, who said Zakrzewski had one visitor and "remained compliant" as his execution time neared. Zakrzewski was sentenced to death for the June 9, 1994, killings of his wife Sylvia, 34, and their children Edward, 7, and Anna, 5. Trial testimony showed he killed his family at their Okaloosa County home after his wife asked for a divorce. He had told others he would kill his family instead of allowing the divorce to happen. He first attacked his wife with a crowbar and strangled her with a rope, court testimony showed. The two children were killed with a machete, and Sylvia was also struck with the blade when Zakrzewski believed she had survived the previous attack, according to court records. Zakrzewski's lawyers filed several unsuccessful appeals over the years, including a final plea for a stay of execution, which the U.S. Supreme Court denied on Wednesday. Before he was put to death, opponents of Zakrzewski's execution pointed to his military service as an Air Force veteran and the fact that a jury narrowly voted 7-5 to recommend his execution. They emphasized that under current state law, he could not have received the death penalty with a split jury vote. After the Supreme Court restored the U.S. death penalty in 1976, Florida's previous record for total executions in a year was eight in 2014, which was exceeded on Thursday. A 10th execution is scheduled in the state on Aug. 19 and an 11th on Aug. 28. Florida has also carried out more executions this year than any other state, with Texas and South Carolina tied for second with four each. Across the U.S., 27 men have been put to death so far this year, while nine other people are scheduled for execution in seven states for the rest of the year. Florida was also the last state to execute someone, with Michael Bernard Bell killed on July 15.
Yahoo
43 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Teacher who admitted to killing couple on a hike with their kids in Arkansas to appear in court
Arkansas Hikers Killed LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A teacher who authorities say admitted to fatally stabbing a couple he didn't know who were hiking with two of their children in an Arkansas state park is expected to have his first court appearance Friday. Andrew James McGann, 28, has been charged with two counts of capital murder in the killing Saturday of Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41. He is being held without bond and is expected to appear at the Washington County Detention Center. Arkansas State Police Col. Mike Hagar said authorities are trying to determine a motive for the attack at Devil's Den, a 2,500-acre (1,000-hectare) state park near West Fork, about 140 miles (220 kilometers) northwest of Little Rock, the state capital. Its trails have been closed to the public since Saturday. State Police arrested McGann on Wednesday at a barbershop in Springdale, approximately 30 miles (50 kilometers) north of the park, said Maj. Stacie Rhoads, commander of the department's criminal investigation division. Washington County prosecutor Brandon Carter said he did not know if McGann has a lawyer or will need a public defender. The Associated Press has left messages at numbers listed for McGann, who has no criminal record. Officials said the husband was stabbed first, approximately half a mile (0.8 kilometers) into the park, then the mother ushered her children to safety before returning to help her husband. She was also stabbed to death. Authorities have not said if the girls — ages 7 and 9 — witnessed both their parents being killed. They were not hurt and are being cared for by family members, authorities said. McGann was cooperative during the arrest and admitted to killing the couple soon after, Rhoads said. Police also matched his DNA to blood found at the crime scene. The case is distressing even to the police. 'In my 27 years that I've been with the State Police, this is probably one of the most heinous that we've had, especially the aspect of just how random it was,' Rhoads said. Police flooded with tips McGann was arrested after a five-day search and hundreds of tips. The State Police collected photos and videos from other hikers who didn't witness the attack but were on the trails at around the same time. Police also released a composite sketch and a photo that showed a person of interest from behind. The police then narrowed down the suspect's vehicle, which had tape over the license plate, using surveillance footage from homes and businesses near Devil's Den. Within an hour of McGann being identified as a suspect, he was caught at the barber shop. Carter indicated the state would give a jury the option to sentence McGann to the death penalty. Suspect taught in other states before Arkansas job McGann has active teaching licenses in Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma, according to each respective government certification website. No infractions or suspensions are noted on his public state licensures in any of those states. The Associated Press has reached out to all three state education agencies. McGann was placed on administrative leave in spring 2023 while he was employed at Donald Elementary School in Flower Mound, Texas, 'following concerns related to classroom management, professional judgment, and student favoritism,' according to a spokesperson for the Lewisville Independent School District. Sierra Marcum, whose son was in McGann's fourth grade class, said the teacher came across as 'pretty cold' and 'disinterested in his students.' Marcum said her son had come home from school upset about some of McGann's behavior, which she reported to the school's principal. McGann resigned from the Lewisville posting in May 2023, the district said in a statement. He also taught at a small Oklahoma school district from the summer of 2024 until May this year. He resigned to take a job in another state, according to a statement from Sand Springs Public Schools, near Tulsa. The district said McGann passed all background checks. Law enforcement hasn't contacted Sand Springs Public Schools regarding the investigation, district spokesperson Lissa Chidester said. McGann had not yet started his new job in Arkansas at Springdale Public Schools, said Jared Cleveland, the district superintendent. He said the district could not provide more information, citing the investigation. The victims had just arrived in Arkansas The Brinks and their three daughters had recently moved from South Dakota to the small city of Prairie Grove in northwest Arkansas. Clinton Brink was supposed to start working as a milk delivery driver on Monday, according to Hiland Dairy, his employer. Cristen Brink had been licensed as a nurse in Montana and South Dakota before moving to Arkansas. The Brink family said the couple died 'heroes protecting their little girls.' ___ Riddle reported from Montgomery, Alabama. Associated Press reporter Hallie Golden in Seattle and Corey Williams in Detroit contributed.
Associated Press
an hour ago
- Associated Press
Teacher who admitted to killing couple on a hike with their kids in Arkansas to appear in court
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A teacher who authorities say admitted to fatally stabbing a couple he didn't know who were hiking with two of their children in an Arkansas state park is expected to have his first court appearance Friday. Andrew James McGann, 28, has been charged with two counts of capital murder in the killing Saturday of Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41. He is being held without bond and is expected to appear at the Washington County Detention Center. Arkansas State Police Col. Mike Hagar said authorities are trying to determine a motive for the attack at Devil's Den, a 2,500-acre (1,000-hectare) state park near West Fork, about 140 miles (220 kilometers) northwest of Little Rock, the state capital. Its trails have been closed to the public since Saturday. State Police arrested McGann on Wednesday at a barbershop in Springdale, approximately 30 miles (50 kilometers) north of the park, said Maj. Stacie Rhoads, commander of the department's criminal investigation division. Washington County prosecutor Brandon Carter said he did not know if McGann has a lawyer or will need a public defender. The Associated Press has left messages at numbers listed for McGann, who has no criminal record. Officials said the husband was stabbed first, approximately half a mile (0.8 kilometers) into the park, then the mother ushered her children to safety before returning to help her husband. She was also stabbed to death. Authorities have not said if the girls — ages 7 and 9 — witnessed both their parents being killed. They were not hurt and are being cared for by family members, authorities said. McGann was cooperative during the arrest and admitted to killing the couple soon after, Rhoads said. Police also matched his DNA to blood found at the crime scene. The case is distressing even to the police. 'In my 27 years that I've been with the State Police, this is probably one of the most heinous that we've had, especially the aspect of just how random it was,' Rhoads said. Police flooded with tips McGann was arrested after a five-day search and hundreds of tips. The State Police collected photos and videos from other hikers who didn't witness the attack but were on the trails at around the same time. Police also released a composite sketch and a photo that showed a person of interest from behind. The police then narrowed down the suspect's vehicle, which had tape over the license plate, using surveillance footage from homes and businesses near Devil's Den. Within an hour of McGann being identified as a suspect, he was caught at the barber shop. Carter indicated the state would give a jury the option to sentence McGann to the death penalty. Suspect taught in other states before Arkansas job McGann has active teaching licenses in Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma, according to each respective government certification website. No infractions or suspensions are noted on his public state licensures in any of those states. The Associated Press has reached out to all three state education agencies. McGann was placed on administrative leave in spring 2023 while he was employed at Donald Elementary School in Flower Mound, Texas, 'following concerns related to classroom management, professional judgment, and student favoritism,' according to a spokesperson for the Lewisville Independent School District. Sierra Marcum, whose son was in McGann's fourth grade class, said the teacher came across as 'pretty cold' and 'disinterested in his students.' Marcum said her son had come home from school upset about some of McGann's behavior, which she reported to the school's principal. McGann resigned from the Lewisville posting in May 2023, the district said in a statement. He also taught at a small Oklahoma school district from the summer of 2024 until May this year. He resigned to take a job in another state, according to a statement from Sand Springs Public Schools, near Tulsa. The district said McGann passed all background checks. Law enforcement hasn't contacted Sand Springs Public Schools regarding the investigation, district spokesperson Lissa Chidester said. McGann had not yet started his new job in Arkansas at Springdale Public Schools, said Jared Cleveland, the district superintendent. He said the district could not provide more information, citing the investigation. The victims had just arrived in Arkansas The Brinks and their three daughters had recently moved from South Dakota to the small city of Prairie Grove in northwest Arkansas. Clinton Brink was supposed to start working as a milk delivery driver on Monday, according to Hiland Dairy, his employer. Cristen Brink had been licensed as a nurse in Montana and South Dakota before moving to Arkansas. The Brink family said the couple died 'heroes protecting their little girls.' ___ Riddle reported from Montgomery, Alabama. Associated Press reporter Hallie Golden in Seattle and Corey Williams in Detroit contributed.
