Florida Conducts 12th Execution of the Year in Murder Case

The Execution of David Pittman in Florida

In a significant event that marked the 12th execution in Florida this year, David Pittman, a 63-year-old man, was executed on Wednesday evening. This execution took place at the Florida State Prison near Starke, following a lethal injection administered under a death warrant signed by Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican.

Pittman was pronounced dead at 6:12 p.m. EDT. According to a statement from DeSantis's spokesperson, Alex Lanfranconi, Pittman made his final words clear, stating, "I know you all came to watch an innocent man be murdered by the state of Florida. I am innocent. I didn’t kill anybody. That’s it." As the drugs were being administered, Pittman took a few deep breaths and then became still.

Background of the Crime

In 1991, Pittman was convicted and sentenced to death for three counts of first-degree murder. He was also found guilty of arson and grand theft. The crimes occurred in May 1990 during a contentious divorce between Pittman and his wife, Marie. At the time, investigators claimed that Pittman had threatened to harm his wife's family multiple times.

During the incident, Pittman cut the phone line at the home of his wife's parents, Clarence Knowles, 60, and Barbara Knowles, 50. He stabbed both of them along with their other daughter, Bonnie Knowles, who was 21 years old. After committing the murders, he set their house on fire and stole Bonnie's car, which he also set ablaze. The family was discovered dead on May 15 of that year.

Trial and Conviction

A witness during the 1991 trial identified Pittman as the person seen running away from the burning car. Additionally, a jailhouse informant testified that Pittman admitted to the killings. The jury recommended the death penalty with a vote of 9-3.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, who was responsible for the area where the killings took place, observed the execution. He described Pittman as evil and noted that he never changed. “This evil man wiped out an entire family,” Judd stated after the execution.

Legal Challenges and Final Appeals

Before his execution, Pittman had filed several appeals, focusing on recent evidence suggesting he suffers from intellectual disabilities, including an IQ in the low 70s. His legal team argued that this condition would make his execution unconstitutional. However, the state's lawyers contended that these claims were too late, as they were based on events from years earlier.

The Florida Supreme Court ruled in 2020 that such claims could not be applied retroactively. On Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected Pittman's final appeal, closing the door on further legal challenges.

Execution Trends in Florida

As of now, 31 people have been executed in the United States this year, with Florida leading the nation in executions. Governor DeSantis has signed more death warrants than any of his predecessors. Two more executions are scheduled for this fall.

Victor Tony Jones is set to die on September 30 for the 1990 killings of two people during a robbery. Samuel Lee Smithers is scheduled to be executed on October 14 for the murders of two women in 1996.

Prior to Pittman, the last person executed in Florida was Curtis Windom on August 28 for his conviction in the 1992 murders of his girlfriend, her mother, and another man.

Execution Process in Florida

Florida conducts all its executions using a three-drug injection. The process involves a sedative, a paralytic, and a drug that stops the heart, according to the state Department of Corrections. This method is used to ensure a swift and humane execution.