Latest news with #GulfWarIllness
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Yahoo
Gulf War veteran executed for 1998 quadruple murder despite claims of mental illness
May 1 (UPI) -- Florida on Thursday evening executed Gulf War veteran Jeffrey Hutchinson for killing his live-in girlfriend and her three young children in 1998, making him the 15th death row inmate to be killed in the United States this year, despite calls to halt his sentence due to mental illness caused during his military service. Hutchinson's execution began around 8 p.m. EDT Thursday at the Florida State Prison in Railford, located about 47 miles southeast of Jacksonville. The method of execution was a lethal injection of a three-drug cocktail. He was pronounced dead at 8:14 p.m., the Florida Department of Corrections said in a statement. Hutchinson, 62, was sentenced to death on four counts of first-degree murder in 2001 for killing his girlfriend, Renee Flaherty, 32, and her three children, Geoffrey, 9, Amanda, 7, and Logan, 4, on Sept. 11, 1998. Following an argument with Flaherty, Hutchinson, who had been drinking, left their home, loaded his car with clothes and guns, and drove to a bar, only to later return and break down the front door his house. Court documents state that Hutchinson, in a "drunk rage, shot Flaherty once in the head with a shotgun as she lay in bed in the master bedroom with Amanda and Logan, whom he both fatally shot. Geoffrey's body was found in the living room, shot twice: once in the head and once in the chest. He was executed Thursday evening after the Supreme Court rejected his lawyers' request for a stay on the grounds that their client was not competent to be put to death due to "a longstanding and disabling collection of fixed persecutory delusions, which render him unable to rationally understand why he is about to die." The alleged mental conditions stemmed from his time serving as a paratrooper and United States Army Ranger from 1986 to 1994. After his arrest, he told investigators that government operatives may have committed the murders to silence him over his advocacy for veterans suffering from so-called Gulf War Illness. According to his attorneys, those beliefs persisted until his death. After Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Hutchinson's death warrant in late March, 132 veterans wrote a letter urging the Republican to halt the execution, arguing that to proceed was not justice but "a failure of responsibility." "Jeff suffered from neurocognitive impairment, hallucinations, paranoia and uncontrollable aggression -- symptoms we now understand were not character flaws but the result of traumatic brain injury and chemical warfare exposure," the letter dated Friday states. "But instead of receiving care, Jeff was met with silence. The science was not there. The VA was not there. His government was not there." The veterans wrote that Hutchinson came home injured from the war and his mind was a casualty. To execute him, they said, "is the final abandonment of someone our country broke and then left behind." Florida argued against the stay of execution, pointing in filings to a state court ruling from late last month that found he did not suffer from any current mental illness and that his delusions were "demonstrably false." Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty mourned Hutchinson's death in statement emailed to UPI, saying he was executed following "a rushed, shallow and politically compromised" legal process that rubber-stamped DeSantis' commission's findings that he was competent to be killed, rather than allowing sufficient time to make such a determination. "Executing a man who was physically and psychologically shattered by war -- a man who never got the treatment or understanding he needed and deserved -- is not justice," the anti-death penalty organization said. "The devastating murders for which Jeff was convicted do not erase the sacrifices he made for our nation. The blood of those children and their mother is on our hands, too. We failed them all. And that failure did not have to end in more death and more victims." Hutchinson is the fourth person to be executed in Florida this year and the 15th nationwide.
Daily Mirror
02-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Army veteran who said war 'broke' him executed in Florida after quadruple murder of mum and three kids
The Gulf War veteran, convicted of four counts of murder, maintained his innocence through his numerous appeals but his attorneys were ultimately in preventing his execution A U.S. Army Gulf War veteran, convicted of the brutal 1998 shotgun killings of his girlfriend and her three young children in 1998, has become the fourth inmate in Florida to be executed this year. On Thursday, May 1 Jeffrey Hutchinson, 62 was originally scheduled for 6 p.m. EDT but it was delayed two hours. The lethal injection was administered just after 8p.m. EDT at the Florida State Prison near Starke. Hutchinson was pronounced dead at approximately 8:15 p.m. EDT, according to the Florida Department of Corrections. Hutchinson has always denied the heinous crimes and claimed that two unknown assailants perpetrated the killings as part of a U.S. government conspiracy aimed at silencing him over his activism on claims of Gulf War illnesses and other issues affecting veterans. Court records, however, show that on the night of the murders in Crestview, Florida, Hutchinson had argued with his girlfriend, 32-year-old Renee Flaherty, then packed his clothes and guns into a truck. Hutchinson went to a bar and drank some beer, telling staff there that Flaherty was angry with him before leaving abruptly. A short time later, a male caller told a 911 operator, "I just shot my family" from the house Hutchinson and Flaherty shared with the three children. Upon arrival police officers found Hutchinson in the garage with a phone still connected to the 911 center and gunshot residue on his hands, reports Mirror US. At his 2001 trial, Hutchinson based his defense on a claim that two unknown men came to the house, killing Flaherty and the children after he struggled with them. A jury found Hutchinson guilty of four counts of first-degree murder and he was sentenced to life in prison for Flaherty's killing and three death sentences for the children. Since then, Hutchinson has undertaken numerous unsuccessful appeals, many focused on mental health problems linked to his Army service. In late April, his lawyers sought to delay his execution date by claiming Hutchinson is insane and therefore cannot be put to death. Bradford County Circuit Judge James Colaw rejected that argument. In their court filings, Hutchinson's lawyers said he suffers from Gulf War Illness - a series of health problems stemming from the 1990-1991 war in Iraq - as well as post-traumatic stress disorder and paranoia related to his claim that he was targeted by government surveillance. One of his lawyers, Chelsea Shirley, said Hutchinson has "a decades-long delusion that he is being executed to silence his efforts to expose government secrets. Two experts have concluded that he is not competent for execution. Based on these facts, we believe the court was wrong to find Mr. Hutchinson competent to be executed, but we are not surprised." Hutchinson's family has fought for years to raise awareness about his case, even producing a 20-minute documentary-style video about his situation. They insist there is much more to his story than what's been presented in court. His son, Geoffrey Hutchinson, spoke up in support of Jeffrey in the video. "He was a soldier who didn't get the help he needed when he needed it, before it could have caused further problems. And he at least deserves some leniency for that." His brother, Robert Hutchinson, previously said in interviews, "I've known this guy my whole life. His mental capacity is definitely diminished." Robert and his sister travelled to Florida this week to meet with Governor DeSantis and visit their brother.
CBS News
02-05-2025
- CBS News
Gulf War veteran, convicted of 1998 shotgun killings of girlfriend and her 3 young children, executed in Florida
An Army combat veteran whose Gulf War experience triggered severe mental problems was executed Thursday evening in Florida for the 1998 shotgun slayings of his girlfriend and her three young children. Jeffrey Hutchinson, 62, was pronounced dead at 8:15 p.m. following a lethal injection at Florida State Prison near Starke. He was the fourth person executed this year in Florida under death warrants signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, with a fifth execution set for May 15. Hutchinson had no last statement but appeared to be mumbling to himself as the procedure started just before 8 p.m. His legs shook sporadically and he seemed to have body spasms for several minutes, then was still. The process took a little more than 15 minutes. This image provided by the Florida Department of Corrections shows Jeffrey Hutchinson. Florida Department of Corrections via AP The execution was carried out soon after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a final appeal without comment. Hutchinson had long claimed he was innocent and that two unknown assailants perpetrated the killings under a U.S. government conspiracy aimed at silencing his activism on claims including Gulf War illnesses involving veterans. Hutchinson served eight years in the Army, part of it as an elite Ranger. Court records, however, showed that on the night of the killings in Crestview, Florida, Hutchinson argued with his girlfriend, 32-year-old Renee Flaherty, then packed his clothes and guns into a truck. Hutchinson went to a bar and drank some beer, telling staff there that Flaherty was angry with him before leaving abruptly. A short time later, a male caller told a 911 operator, "I just shot my family" from the house Hutchinson and Flaherty shared with the three children: 9-year-old Geoffrey, 7-year-old Amanda, and 4-year-old Logan. All were killed with a 12-gauge shotgun that was found on a kitchen counter. Hutchinson was located by police in the garage with a phone still connected to the 911 center and gunshot residue on his hands. At his 2001 trial, Hutchinson's defense was based on his claim that two unknown men came to the house, killing Flaherty and the children after he struggled with them. A jury found Hutchinson guilty of four counts of first-degree murder and he was sentenced to life in prison for Flaherty's killing and received three death sentences for the children. Hutchinson had filed numerous unsuccessful appeals, many focused on mental health problems linked to his Army service. In late April, his lawyers sought to delay his execution by claiming Hutchinson was insane and therefore could not be put to death. Bradford County Circuit Judge James Colaw rejected that argument in an April 27 order. "This Court finds that Mr. Hutchinson's purported delusion is demonstrably false. Jeffrey Hutchinson does not lack the mental capacity to understand the reason for the pending execution," the judge wrote. In their court filings, Hutchinson's lawyers said he suffered from Gulf War Illness — a series of health problems stemming from the 1990-1991 war in Iraq — as well as post-traumatic stress disorder and paranoia related to his claim that he had been targeted by government surveillance. Florida's lethal injection protocol uses a sedative, a paralytic and a drug that stops the heart, according to the state Department of Corrections. So far this year 15 people have been executed in the U.S. including Hutchinson. A fifth Florida execution is scheduled May 15 for Glen Rogers, who was convicted of killing a woman at a motel in 1997. Rogers also was convicted of another woman's murder in California and is believed by investigators to have killed others around the country.
San Francisco Chronicle
02-05-2025
- San Francisco Chronicle
Florida executes a man for the shotgun killings of his girlfriend and her 3 young children
STARKE, Fla. (AP) — An Army combat veteran whose Gulf War experience triggered severe mental problems was executed Thursday evening in Florida for the 1998 shotgun slayings of his girlfriend and her three young children. Jeffrey Hutchinson, 62, was pronounced dead at 8:15 p.m. following a lethal injection at Florida State Prison near Starke. He was the fourth person executed this year in Florida under death warrants signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, with a fifth execution set for May 15. Hutchinson had no last statement but appeared to be mumbling to himself as the procedure started just before 8 p.m. His legs shook sporadically and he seemed to have body spasms for several minutes, then was still. The process took a little more than 15 minutes. Hutchinson had long claimed he was innocent and that two unknown assailants perpetrated the killings under a U.S. government conspiracy aimed at silencing his activism on claims including Gulf War illnesses involving veterans. Hutchinson served eight years in the Army, part of it as an elite Ranger. Court records, however, showed that on the night of the killings in Crestview, Florida, Hutchinson argued with his girlfriend, 32-year-old Renee Flaherty, then packed his clothes and guns into a truck. Hutchinson went to a bar and drank some beer, telling staff there that Flaherty was angry with him before leaving abruptly. A short time later, a male caller told a 911 operator, 'I just shot my family' from the house Hutchinson and Flaherty shared with the three children: 9-year-old Geoffrey, 7-year-old Amanda, and 4-year-old Logan. All were killed with a 12-gauge shotgun that was found on a kitchen counter. Hutchinson was located by police in the garage with a phone still connected to the 911 center and gunshot residue on his hands. At his 2001 trial, Hutchinson's defense was based on his claim that two unknown men came to the house, killing Flaherty and the children after he struggled with them. A jury found Hutchinson guilty of four counts of first-degree murder and he was sentenced to life in prison for Flaherty's killing and received three death sentences for the children. Hutchinson had filed numerous unsuccessful appeals, many focused on mental health problems linked to his Army service. In late April, his lawyers sought to delay his execution by claiming Hutchinson was insane and therefore could not be put to death. Bradford County Circuit Judge James Colaw rejected that argument in an April 27 order. 'This Court finds that Mr. Hutchinson's purported delusion is demonstrably false. Jeffrey Hutchinson does not lack the mental capacity to understand the reason for the pending execution," the judge wrote. In their court filings, Hutchinson's lawyers said he suffered from Gulf War Illness — a series of health problems stemming from the 1990-1991 war in Iraq — as well as post-traumatic stress disorder and paranoia related to his claim that he had been targeted by government surveillance. Florida's lethal injection protocol uses a sedative, a paralytic and a drug that stops the heart, according to the state Department of Corrections. So far this year 15 people have been executed in the U.S. including Hutchinson. A fifth Florida execution is scheduled May 15 for Glen Rogers, who was convicted of killing a woman at a motel in 1997. Rogers also was convicted of another woman's murder in California and is believed by investigators to have killed others around the country.
Hamilton Spectator
02-05-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Florida executes a man for the shotgun killings of his girlfriend and her 3 young children
STARKE, Fla. (AP) — An Army combat veteran whose Gulf War experience triggered severe mental problems was executed Thursday in Florida for the 1998 shotgun slayings of his girlfriend and her three young children. Jeffrey Hutchinson, 62, was pronounced dead at 8:15 p.m. following a lethal injection at Florida State Prison near Starke. He was the fourth person executed this year in Florida under death warrants signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, with a fifth execution set for May 15. His execution came shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a last appeal without comment. Hutchinson had long claimed he was innocent and that two unknown assailants perpetrated the killings under a U.S. government conspiracy aimed at silencing his activism on claims of Gulf War illnesses and other issues. Hutchinson served eight years in the Army, part of it as an elite Ranger. Court records, however, showed that on the night of the killings in Crestview, Florida, Hutchinson argued with his girlfriend, 32-year-old Renee Flaherty, then packed his clothes and guns into a truck. Hutchinson went to a bar and drank some beer, telling staff there that Flaherty was angry with him before leaving abruptly. A short time later, a male caller told a 911 operator, 'I just shot my family' from the house Hutchinson and Flaherty shared with the three children: 9-year-old Geoffrey, 7-year-old Amanda, and 4-year-old Logan. All were killed with a 12-gauge shotgun that was found on a kitchen counter. Hutchinson was located by police in the garage with a phone still connected to the 911 center and gunshot residue on his hands. At his 2001 trial, Hutchinson's defense was based on his claim that two unknown men came to the house, killing Flaherty and the children after he struggled with them. A jury found Hutchinson guilty of four counts of first-degree murder and he was sentenced to life in prison for Flaherty's killing and received three death sentences for the children. Hutchinson had filed numerous unsuccessful appeals, many focused on mental health problems linked to his Army service. In late April, his lawyers sought to delay his execution by claiming Hutchinson was insane and therefore could not be put to death. Bradford County Circuit Judge James Colaw rejected that argument in an April 27 order. 'This Court finds that Mr. Hutchinson's purported delusion is demonstrably false. Jeffrey Hutchinson does not lack the mental capacity to understand the reason for the pending execution,' the judge wrote. In their court filings, Hutchinson's lawyers said he suffered from Gulf War Illness — a series of health problems stemming from the 1990-1991 war in Iraq — as well as post-traumatic stress disorder and paranoia related to his claim that he had been targeted by government surveillance. One of his lawyers, Chelsea Shirley, said Hutchinson had 'a decades-long delusion that he is being executed to silence his efforts to expose government secrets. Two experts have concluded that he is not competent for execution. Based on these facts, we believe the court was wrong to find Mr. Hutchinson competent to be executed, but we are not surprised.' Florida's lethal injection protocol uses a sedative, a paralytic and a drug that stops the heart, according to the state Department of Corrections. So far this year 14 people have been executed in the U.S ., including three in Florida, with Hutchinson to become the fourth. A fifth Florida execution is scheduled May 15 for Glen Rogers, convicted of killing a woman at a motel in 1997. Rogers was also convicted of another woman's murder in California and is believed by investigators to have killed others around the country.
