Quick take
Florida carried out its 13th execution of 2025 when Victor Tony Jones, 64, was pronounced dead after receiving a lethal injection at Florida State Prison. The execution, which officials say went without complications, pushed the state past its previous single-year high for executions and leaves two more death warrants on the calendar for October.
What happened back in 1990
Back in December of 1990, Jones — newly employed at a small Miami-Dade business — was accused of stabbing a married couple who owned the place. Court records say the woman was stabbed in the neck and her husband was stabbed in the chest. Despite his injuries, the husband managed to pull out a pistol and fire; investigators say Jones was later found wounded at the scene with the couple’s cash and belongings on him. He was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to death in 1993.
Final moments and official notes
When asked if he wanted to make a last statement, Jones reportedly said, “No, sir.” Officials confirmed the three-drug protocol was administered without reported complications. The execution was carried out under a death warrant signed earlier by the governor.
Appeals and legal issues
Jones filed appeals arguing intellectual disability and pointing to alleged abuse he suffered as a teen at a now-closed state-run reform school. State courts rejected those claims, saying the disability question had already been litigated and that the abuse allegations were not raised at trial. A last-minute appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court was denied without comment just hours before the execution.
Where this fits in the bigger picture
Since the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976, Florida’s previous single-year high was eight executions in 2014. This year the state has outpaced every other state — Texas is the next highest with five executions. Nationwide, 34 people have been executed so far this year, and several more are scheduled.
Who’s next
Two more executions are currently scheduled in Florida for October. Samuel Lee Smithers is set for Oct. 14 for a 1996 case that left two women dead, and Norman Mearle Grim Jr. is scheduled for Oct. 28 in connection with a 1998 killing. Both dates come under death warrants signed by the governor.
How Florida does it
Florida’s execution protocol uses a three-drug combination: a sedative to put the person under, a paralytic to stop movement, and a drug to stop the heart. That’s the official recipe the state uses.
Final thought
This is one of those stories where the facts are grim and the reactions are complicated. There are victims, families, legal twists and policy debates all wrapped into one headline. Whether you’re keeping score on legal procedure, punishment, or the ethics of capital punishment, this year’s surge in executions is a stark reminder that these debates are far from settled.
