Latest news with #Starke
Al Arabiya
2 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Man convicted of killing wife and 2 children set to be 9th person executed in Florida this year
A man convicted of the 1994 machete killings of his wife and two children was set to be put to death Thursday evening in what would be a record ninth execution in Florida this year and its highest single-year total since the Supreme Court restored the death penalty in 1976. Edward Zakrzewski 60 was scheduled to receive a three-drug lethal injection starting at 6 p.m. at Florida State Prison near Starke after his last appeal was rejected a day earlier by the nation's highest court. Florida carried out eight executions in 2014 a one-year high matched by its latest execution in mid-July. Zakrzewski awoke at 5:15 a.m. Thursday and had a meal that included fried pork chops potatoes root beer and ice cream said state Department of Corrections spokesman Paul Walker speaking at an afternoon news briefing. He remained compliant Walker said adding Zakrzewski had one unidentified visitor. Florida this year has carried out more executions than any other state while Texas and South Carolina are tied for second with four apiece. A 10th execution is scheduled in Florida on Aug. 19 and an 11th on Aug. 28 under death warrants signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. Zakrzewski an Air Force veteran was sentenced to die for the June 9, 1994 killings of his 34-year-old wife Sylvia and their children Edward 7 and Anna 5 in the Florida Panhandle. Trial testimony showed he committed the killings at their Okaloosa County home after his wife sought a divorce and he had told others he would kill his family rather than allow that. The woman was attacked first with a crowbar and strangled with a rope court testimony showed. Both children were killed with the machete and Sylvia was also struck with the blade when Zakrzewski thought she had survived the previous assault according to court records. Zakrzewski's lawyers filed numerous appeals over the years but all were rejected. Twenty-six men have died by court-ordered execution so far this year in the US and 11 other people are set to be put to death in seven states during the remainder of 2025. Florida was also the last state to conduct an execution with Michael Bernard Bells lethal injection on July 15. DeSantis signed a warrant for a 10th Florida execution Aug. 19 for Kayle Bates who was convicted of abducting and killing a woman from an insurance office in 1982. On Wednesday night DeSantis issued a death warrant for Curtis Windom who was convicted of killing three people in the Orlando area in 1992. His execution is set for Aug. 28. Florida uses a three-drug cocktail for its lethal injection: a sedative a paralytic and a drug that stops the heart according to the state Department of Corrections. Opponents of Thursday's execution plan pointed to Zakrzewski's military service and the fact that a jury voted 7-5 to recommend his execution barely a majority of the panel. They noted he could not have received the death penalty with a split jury vote under current state law. A group opposed to the death penalty organized an anti-execution petition urging people to call DeSantis' office and read a prepared script appealing for a stay.
The Guardian
11 hours ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Florida to execute man convicted of killing his wife and children in 1994
A Florida man convicted of killing his wife and two children in 1994 is set for execution on Thursday, which would be the state's ninth death sentence carried out in 2025, setting a new record for a single year. A 10th execution is scheduled for 19 August and an 11th on 28 August. A death warrant signed by the Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, directs that 60-year-old Edward Zakrzewski be executed by lethal injection at 6pm on Thursday at the Florida state prison near Starke. Zakrzewski's final appeal for a stay was rejected on Wednesday by the US supreme court. The highest previous annual total of recent Florida executions is eight in 2014, since the death penalty was restored in 1976 by the supreme court. Florida has executed more people than any other state this year, while Texas and South Carolina are tied for second place, with four each. Zakrzewski, an air force veteran, was sentenced to die for the 1994 slayings of his 34-year-old wife, Sylvia, and their children Edward, seven, and five-year-old Anna, at their home in Okaloosa county in the panhandle. Trial testimony showed he committed the killings after his wife sought a divorce, and he had told others he would kill his family rather than allow that. Opponents of the execution point to Zakrzewski's military service and the fact that a jury voted 7-5 to recommend his execution, barely a majority of the panel. He could not be executed with such a split jury vote under current state law. The trial judge imposed three death sentences on Zakrzewski. The Action Network, which organized an anti-execution petition, asked people to call DeSantis's office and read a prepared script urging a stay of execution for Zakrzewski. 'Florida does not need the death penalty to be safe. This execution will not make us safer, it will simply add another act of violence to an already tragic story. Justice does not require death,' the script reads in part. Zakrzewski's lawyers have filed numerous appeals over the years, all of which have been rejected. Twenty-six men have died by court-ordered execution so far this year in the US, and 11 other people are scheduled to be put to death in seven states during the remainder of 2025. Florida was also the last state to execute someone, when Michael Bernard Bell died by lethal injection on 15 July. DeSantis also signed a warrant for the 10th execution this year for Kayle Bates, who abducted a woman from an insurance office and killed her more than four decades ago. On Wednesday night, DeSantis issued a death warrant for Curtis Windom, 59, convicted of killing three people in the Orlando area in 1992. His execution is scheduled for 28 August. Florida uses a three-drug cocktail for its lethal injection: a sedative, a paralytic and a drug that stops the heart, according to the state's department of corrections.
The Guardian
11 hours ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Florida to execute man convicted of killing his wife and children in 1994
A Florida man convicted of killing his wife and two children in 1994 is set for execution on Thursday, which would be the state's ninth death sentence carried out in 2025, setting a new record for a single year. A 10th execution is scheduled for 19 August and an 11th on 28 August. A death warrant signed by the Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, directs that 60-year-old Edward Zakrzewski be executed by lethal injection at 6pm on Thursday at the Florida state prison near Starke. Zakrzewski's final appeal for a stay was rejected on Wednesday by the US supreme court. The highest previous annual total of recent Florida executions is eight in 2014, since the death penalty was restored in 1976 by the supreme court. Florida has executed more people than any other state this year, while Texas and South Carolina are tied for second place, with four each. Zakrzewski, an air force veteran, was sentenced to die for the 1994 slayings of his 34-year-old wife, Sylvia, and their children Edward, seven, and five-year-old Anna, at their home in Okaloosa county in the panhandle. Trial testimony showed he committed the killings after his wife sought a divorce, and he had told others he would kill his family rather than allow that. Opponents of the execution point to Zakrzewski's military service and the fact that a jury voted 7-5 to recommend his execution, barely a majority of the panel. He could not be executed with such a split jury vote under current state law. The trial judge imposed three death sentences on Zakrzewski. The Action Network, which organized an anti-execution petition, asked people to call DeSantis's office and read a prepared script urging a stay of execution for Zakrzewski. 'Florida does not need the death penalty to be safe. This execution will not make us safer, it will simply add another act of violence to an already tragic story. Justice does not require death,' the script reads in part. Zakrzewski's lawyers have filed numerous appeals over the years, all of which have been rejected. Twenty-six men have died by court-ordered execution so far this year in the US, and 11 other people are scheduled to be put to death in seven states during the remainder of 2025. Florida was also the last state to execute someone, when Michael Bernard Bell died by lethal injection on 15 July. DeSantis also signed a warrant for the 10th execution this year for Kayle Bates, who abducted a woman from an insurance office and killed her more than four decades ago. On Wednesday night, DeSantis issued a death warrant for Curtis Windom, 59, convicted of killing three people in the Orlando area in 1992. His execution is scheduled for 28 August. Florida uses a three-drug cocktail for its lethal injection: a sedative, a paralytic and a drug that stops the heart, according to the state's department of corrections.
Washington Post
19 hours ago
- Washington Post
Florida set to execute man for killing wife, 2 kids in new state death sentence record for 1 year
STARKE, Fla. — A Florida man convicted of killing his wife and two children with a machete in 1994 is set for execution Thursday, which would be the ninth death sentence carried out in 2025 to set a new state record for a single year. A 10th execution is scheduled for Aug. 19 and an 11th on Aug. 28 .
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Man shot and killed by mother of children at Starke daycare, per Bradford Co. sheriff
A man is dead after a domestic-related shooting at a daycare in the area of West Washington Street and North Lake Street in Starke Friday evening, according to law enforcement. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< A 911 call about the shooting was received just before 6 pm. According to the Bradford County Sheriff's Office, the man who died and the suspect were both at Auntie Lili's Child Care Center to pick up their children. The suspect, identified as 34-year-old Mindy Osteen, allegedly shot the man outside the daycare. She was taken into custody, and the gun used to shoot the man was soon recovered. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] The nearby high school was put on lockdown following the incident. The man was transported to a local emergency room, where he was pronounced dead, according to the sheriff. Officials say both parents had a history of domestic violence, and no kids were injured. Law enforcement will remain in the area as detectives process the scene. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]
