A 63-year-old convict on death row since 1991 was put to death in Florida on Wednesday, marking the 12th execution this year under Governor Ron DeSantis, setting a new record. David Joseph Pittman received a lethal injection at Florida State Prison near Starke following the governor’s signed death warrant. Pittman, convicted in 1990 for the murders of three individuals in Mulberry and arson of their home, maintained his innocence until the end.
Despite Pittman’s claims of innocence, the execution proceeded without issues as confirmed by the governor’s spokesperson. Advocacy groups have urged a halt to the execution, criticizing the death penalty as a form of violent spectacle that does not contribute to safety or justice. Pittman’s final appeal was rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court, leading to his execution on Wednesday.
Two more executions are scheduled in Florida this autumn, with Victor Tony Jones set for September 30 for a 1990 robbery-related double murder and Samuel Lee Smithers slated for October 14 for the killings of two women in 1996. Pittman’s execution drew attention to ongoing debates surrounding the death penalty and its efficacy in addressing violent crimes.