Latest news with #DavidPittman
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Yahoo
Florida continues capital punishment record with execution date for triple murderer
A Florida man convicted of a triple murder and arson is scheduled for execution, as the state continues its record-breaking pace of capital punishment under Governor Ron DeSantis. David Pittman, 63, is set to die on 17 September, following a death warrant signed by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis. Pittman was found guilty of fatally stabbing his estranged wife's sister and parents before setting their house ablaze. This execution would mark the 12th scheduled in Florida this year, a figure that extends the state's recent record for capital punishment. The previous highest annual total since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976 was eight executions in 2014. Florida has already carried out nine executions in 2023, surpassing any other US state. Texas and South Carolina currently rank second, each having conducted four executions. Two other men, Kayle Bates and Curtis Windom, are also awaiting execution later this month in Florida. A total of 28 people have been executed so far this year in the U.S., exceeding the 25 executions carried out last year. It ties 2015, when 28 people were also put to death. Pittman was convicted and sentenced to death in 1991 on three counts of first-degree murder, according to court records. Jurors also found him guilty of arson and grand theft. Pittman and his wife, Marie, were going through a divorce in May 1990, when Pittman went to the Polk County home of her parents, Clarence and Barbara Knowles, officials said. Pittman fatally stabbed the couple, as well as their younger daughter, Bonnie. He then set fire to the house and stole Bonnie Knowles' car, which he also set on fire, investigators said. A witnessed identified Pittman as the person running away from the burning car. A jailhouse informant also testified that Pittman had admitted to the killings. The Florida Supreme Court is already scheduled to hear an appeal. An appeal will also likely be filed with the U.S. Supreme Court.
Fox News
21 hours ago
- Fox News
Florida schedules execution for man who killed estranged wife's family, set house on fire
A Florida man convicted of killing his estranged wife's sister and parents before setting their house on fire 35 years ago will be put to death next month, which could extend the Sunshine State's record number of executions to 12. David Pittman, 63, is set to be executed on Sept. 17 under a death warrant signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday. Pittman was convicted in 1991 and sentenced to death on three counts of first-degree murder, as well as arson and grand theft, after the killings that were carried out the year before. Pittman and his wife, Marie, were going through a divorce when he went to the home of her parents, Clarence and Barbara Knowles, in May 1990 and stabbed them and their younger daughter, Bonnie, to death, according to officials. He then lit the Polk County home on fire and stole Bonnie Knowles' car before also setting the vehicle on fire, investigators said. A witness identified Pittman as the man running away from the burning car and a jailhouse informant testified that Pittman had admitted to the stabbing deaths of his wife's family. The Florida Supreme Court will hear an appeal seeking to block the execution, and an appeal will also likely be filed with the U.S. Supreme Court. In 2022, the state Supreme Court denied Pittman's claim that he was intellectually disabled as well as allegations that his death sentence was illegal because he had not received an evidentiary hearing on his disability claim. Pittman is set to be the 12th person put to death in Florida this year, including Kayle Bates and Curtis Windom, who are scheduled for execution later this month. Florida has executed more people this year than any other state, with 9 after an execution in July. Texas and South Carolina are tied for the second-most with four each. Before this year, Florida's previous record for executions in a year since the death penalty was restored in 1976 was eight in 2014.
CNN
a day ago
- Politics
- CNN
Execution date set for Florida man who killed estranged wife's sister and parents, set fire to house
A Florida man who fatally stabbed his estranged wife's sister and parents and then set fire to their house is scheduled for execution in Florida under a death warrant signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. David Pittman, 63, is set to die Sept. 17 in the record-extending 12th execution scheduled for this year. DeSantis signed the warrant Friday, as two other men, Kayle Bates and Curtis Windom, await execution later this month. The highest previous annual total of recent Florida executions is eight in 2014, since the death penalty was restored in 1976 by the US Supreme Court. Florida has already executed nine people this year, more than any other state, while Texas and South Carolina are tied for second place with four each. A total of 28 people have been executed so far this year in the US, exceeding the 25 executions carried out last year. It ties 2015, when 28 people were also put to death. Pittman was convicted and sentenced to death in 1991 on three counts of first-degree murder, according to court records. Jurors also found him guilty of arson and grand theft. Pittman and his wife, Marie, were going through a divorce in May 1990, when Pittman went to the Polk County home of her parents, Clarence and Barbara Knowles, officials said. Pittman fatally stabbed the couple, as well as their younger daughter, Bonnie. He then set fire to the house and stole Bonnie Knowles' car, which he also set on fire, investigators said. A witnessed identified Pittman as the person running away from the burning car. A jailhouse informant also testified that Pittman had admitted to the killings. The Florida Supreme Court is already scheduled to hear an appeal. An appeal will also likely be filed with the US Supreme Court.
CNN
a day ago
- Politics
- CNN
Execution date set for Florida man who killed estranged wife's sister and parents, set fire to house
A Florida man who fatally stabbed his estranged wife's sister and parents and then set fire to their house is scheduled for execution in Florida under a death warrant signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. David Pittman, 63, is set to die Sept. 17 in the record-extending 12th execution scheduled for this year. DeSantis signed the warrant Friday, as two other men, Kayle Bates and Curtis Windom, await execution later this month. The highest previous annual total of recent Florida executions is eight in 2014, since the death penalty was restored in 1976 by the US Supreme Court. Florida has already executed nine people this year, more than any other state, while Texas and South Carolina are tied for second place with four each. A total of 28 people have been executed so far this year in the US, exceeding the 25 executions carried out last year. It ties 2015, when 28 people were also put to death. Pittman was convicted and sentenced to death in 1991 on three counts of first-degree murder, according to court records. Jurors also found him guilty of arson and grand theft. Pittman and his wife, Marie, were going through a divorce in May 1990, when Pittman went to the Polk County home of her parents, Clarence and Barbara Knowles, officials said. Pittman fatally stabbed the couple, as well as their younger daughter, Bonnie. He then set fire to the house and stole Bonnie Knowles' car, which he also set on fire, investigators said. A witnessed identified Pittman as the person running away from the burning car. A jailhouse informant also testified that Pittman had admitted to the killings. The Florida Supreme Court is already scheduled to hear an appeal. An appeal will also likely be filed with the US Supreme Court.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Execution date set for Florida man who killed estranged wife's sister and parents, set fire to house
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A Florida man who fatally stabbed his estranged wife's sister and parents and then set fire to their house is scheduled for execution in Florida under a death warrant signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. David Pittman, 63, is set to die Sept. 17 in the record-extending 12th execution scheduled for this year. DeSantis signed the warrant Friday, as two other men, Kayle Bates and Curtis Windom, await execution later this month. The highest previous annual total of recent Florida executions is eight in 2014, since the death penalty was restored in 1976 by the U.S. Supreme Court. Florida has already executed nine people this year, more than any other state, while Texas and South Carolina are tied for second place with four each. A total of 28 people have been executed so far this year in the U.S., exceeding the 25 executions carried out last year. It ties 2015, when 28 people were also put to death. Pittman was convicted and sentenced to death in 1991 on three counts of first-degree murder, according to court records. Jurors also found him guilty of arson and grand theft. Pittman and his wife, Marie, were going through a divorce in May 1990, when Pittman went to the Polk County home of her parents, Clarence and Barbara Knowles, officials said. Pittman fatally stabbed the couple, as well as their younger daughter, Bonnie. He then set fire to the house and stole Bonnie Knowles' car, which he also set on fire, investigators said. A witnessed identified Pittman as the person running away from the burning car. A jailhouse informant also testified that Pittman had admitted to the killings. The Florida Supreme Court is already scheduled to hear an appeal. An appeal will also likely be filed with the U.S. Supreme Court.
