Florida just set a new, somber record with its latest execution. A man convicted of a triple murder faced lethal injection, but it’s the victim’s families’ unexpected plea that’s truly making headlines. What does this reveal about justice, forgiveness, and the death penalty in the Sunshine State?
Florida has once again cemented its position in the grim annals of capital punishment, extending its record for executions this year to 11. The latest individual to face lethal injection was Curtis Windom, a 59-year-old man convicted of a brutal triple murder that occurred over three decades ago. This significant event reignites complex discussions surrounding the justice system, the death penalty, and the profound impact on both victims’ families and the condemned.
Windom’s execution took place at Florida State Prison near Starke, concluding a legal journey spanning more than 30 years. Reports from The Associated Press detailed the somber scene: a curtain raising to reveal Windom’s face covered by a sheet, followed by deep breaths and physical twitches as the lethal drugs were administered, until all movement ceased. This clinical description belies the intense emotional and ethical debates that swirl around every act of state-sanctioned death.
The triple homicide for which Windom was convicted occurred on November 7, 1992. He was found guilty of killing his girlfriend, Valerie Davis, her mother, Mary Lubin, and Johnnie Lee, a man Windom claimed owed him $2,000. The sequence of events leading to these killings, as detailed in court records, paints a chilling picture of escalating violence and premeditation, forever altering multiple lives.
Following the execution, Kemene Hunter, Valerie Davis’s sister, made a poignant statement, wearing a T-shirt that read, “Justice for her, healing for me.” Her words underscore the enduring pain and the deeply personal quest for closure that often accompanies such horrific crimes. For many, an execution represents the ultimate form of justice, offering a sense of finality to years of suffering and legal battles.
Court records further illuminated Windom’s mindset on the day of the murders. A friend reportedly informed him that Johnnie Lee had won $114 at a greyhound racetrack, to which Windom responded with a chilling declaration: “you’re gonna read about me,” indicating his intention to kill Lee over the alleged debt. Subsequently, Windom proceeded to Davis’s apartment, where he shot and killed her without provocation, then wounded another man before fatally shooting Davis’s mother as she drove to her daughter’s residence.
In a surprising and profoundly moving development, relatives and friends of all three murder victims released a joint statement. This statement revealed that they still held love and care for Curtis Windom and had actively campaigned to prevent his execution. Their heartfelt message emphasized forgiveness and healing, stating, “We have continued to love and care for Curtis… We have forgiven him.” This perspective offers a powerful counter-narrative to the conventional understanding of justice.
Adding to this chorus, Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty issued a statement asserting that “Forgiveness and healing do not come from a lethal injection… They come from the families’ decades of conversations, visits, and phone calls with Curtis, where he demonstrated remorse and redemption.” The group directly challenged Governor DeSantis, stating, “Tonight’s execution wasn’t about justice. It was about flexing political muscle,” highlighting the political dimensions of Florida’s recent execution trends.
Under Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida’s capital punishment system has seen a significant acceleration this year, with a total of 11 executions—a record number for the state. This places Florida ahead of all other U.S. states, with Texas and South Carolina trailing with four each. The state’s 12th execution is already slated for September 17, indicating a sustained commitment to lethal injection as a tool of the criminal justice system.
