Florida to set record with 9 executions in 2025 under DeSantis; latest is Okaloosa killer

NW Florida Daily News ^ | July 01, 2025 | Jim Rosica

[Red Badger]

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed a death warrant for Edward J. Zakrzewski II, a former Eglin Air Force Base airman who strangled his wife and hacked his two young children to death with a machete inside their Mary Esther home in 1994.

His execution is set for July 31, just two weeks after the one that is set for death row inmate Michael Bell on July 15. Most recently, the state put to death Thomas Gudinas on June 24. The latest warrant for Zakrzewski was signed July 1.

His death, assuming it is not stopped by the courts, would be the ninth the governor has ordered in 2025, a modern-era record for the number of executions approved by a Florida governor in one year. In 1984 and 2014, the governors at the time – the late U.S. Sen. Bob Graham and current U.S. Sen. Rick Scott – each signed eight death warrants.

[Red Badger]

This is a local story here. He murdered his entire family, chopped them up and put them in the bathtub and fled somehow to Hawaii, Big Island, where he was recognized on a TV broadcast of America's Most Wanted.....................

[Red Badger]

Ping!.............

[montag813]

20 years on death row. Absolutely disgusting to allow him more than 1 calendar year to appeal.

[dfwgator]

Next!

[Gay State Conservative]

Was he active duty,Reserves or National Guard when he did it? If so he could have been court martial-ed and sent to Death Row at Leavenworth.

[Gay State Conservative]

I love the line that Ron White had years ago. With that Texas drawl of his he smiled and said “if you come to Texas and kill somebody we will kill you back. That’s our policy!”

[Red Badger]

He was active duty at Hurlburt Field. He was AWOL and they went to his home in Mary Esther, a couple of miles from the base and found the bodies...............

[bk1000]

Thirty years under a death sentence, and somehow he lives.
How does that even work? I know one can appeal a conviction, but for thirty years? Something is wrong here.

[Red Badger]

Death Penalty cases are routinely delayed by the lawyers..............

[Gay State Conservative]

Ron White

[fwdude]

I definitely think one calendar year to appeal is more than generous. Any exonerating evidence could definitely be found in that amount of time.

Most appeals are a game of stalling with legal word games.

[Opinionated Blowhard]

Come on, Texas! You just lost your Number One spot.

[Red Badger]

I have read that the last PUBLIC hanging in Florida was in our county, Okaloosa, back in the 1900 teens.

The newspaper of that time described the scene like a County Fair. People came from all around to witness the hanging on a gallows on the Courthouse lawn in Crestview, the County Seat.

People came with their families and picnic lunches. Vendors were selling cold drinks and sandwiches.

There was a lot less crime back then.

We should start doing this again..................

[Justa]

This YT channel has new executions every week:
https://www.youtube.com/@PoliceOnScene

[Gay State Conservative]

I've always wondered how the Armed Forces decide cases when a uniformed member commits a serious crime. Maybe in the case of murder they hope the guy will be convicted in a civilian court and get a fitting punishment. And if he doesn't there's always the court martial option.

There was a case years ago where a soldier at Ft Bragg killed an Air Force wife and her kids. A civilian court found him not guilty so he returned to duty. Years later new DNA technology showed his clear connection to the murders. He was called out of retirement,court martial-ed,convicted and is now sitting on Death Row at Leavenworth.

[Mastador1]

A lot less crime back then, as a percent of population 🤔

[Vigilanteman]

Amen. And add hymn singing to p*$$ off the ACLU.

More executions = fewer murders.

[Red Badger]

And NO PLEA DEALS!

If you kill a child there should be no mercy. Execution in 30 days, period.........................

[dfwgator]

Can’t argue with the 0% recidivism rate.

[PubliusMM]

30 years delayed is not justice...