Capital Punishment

New Florida Law Will Speed Up Death Row Executions; Will Rick Scott Sign Bill?

A defining moment of Rick Scott's political career is at hand, in a form no one would have predicted. New legislation concerning the death penalty is on its way to his desk. If he signs it, the Sunshine State may embark on an official killing spree. Florida has long stood out among the 50 states in ... More >>

Witness to an Execution: State Rep. Dave Kerner Watches Murderer Die

"Write what you know" is the cardinal rule of creative writing, and it would seem to be even more important in the writing of legislation. Bad literature can be ignored; bad law, not so much. State Rep Dave Kerner has taken that thought to heart. Kerner (D-Palm Springs) has played a major role ... More >>

Nine Most Important Bills Being Voted on by Florida Legislature

The Florida Legislative sessions got kicked off this week, and since this is Florida, there's no lack of fodder to get super riled up about and make loud angry noises and be an anonymous tough guy in the comments sections of blogs and on Twitter. Lawmakers will look at and vote on about 2,000 bill ... More >>

Florida Is Number One in Sending Inmates to Death Row

Hey, Florida! Looks like we're number one in yet another dubious category! Just a few weeks ago, we became number one in most concealed weapons permits (just days before Newtown, no less!). And now, it looks like we're number one in sending convicted inmates to death row. Most concealed weap ... More >>

Manuel Pardo, Former Florida Cop, To Be Executed Tuesday

In April of 1986, the body of Daisy Ricard was found in a secluded wooded area in Hialeah. She had been shot in the head by two different .22 caliber pistols. The following day, the body of her boyfriend, Ramon Alvero, was discovered in the trunk of a car about a mile away from where Daisy had been ... More >>

Oba Chandler Set to Be Executed Today; Picked Salami Sandwiches for His Last Meal

Florida Department of CorrectionsOba Chandler, scheduled to die at 4 p.m. today.​Rapist/triple murderer Oba Chandler is scheduled to be executed at the Florida State Prison at 4 p.m. today, and he's already submitted the request for his last meal.According to Florida Department of Corrections spok ... More >>

Oba Chandler's Supreme Court Arguments Canceled; 12 Days Until Scheduled Execution

Florida Department of CorrectionsOba Chandler, scheduled to die in 12 days.​Arguments before the Florida Supreme Court in the appeal of triple murderer Oba Chandler's death sentence that were scheduled for Wednesday have been canceled, according to a filing from the clerk's office released just mi ... More >>

Oba Chandler Denied Yet Another Appeal of His Death Sentence, So He Filed Another Appeal

Florida Department of CorrectionsOba Chandler​Rapist and three-time murderer Oba Chandler's eighth attempt at appealing his death sentence was denied, and of course, he filed a ninth -- which may be the last attempt before his scheduled November 15 execution.Chandler's lawyer filed a motion in cir ... More >>

Surprise: Rapist/Triple Murderer Oba Chandler Doesn't Want to Be Executed

Florida Department of CorrectionsOba Chandler​Rapist and three-time murderer Oba Chandler, who's scheduled to be receive his lethal injection at 4 p.m. on November 15, doesn't want to be executed. Imagine that.Chandler's lawyer filed a motion in a circuit court today seeking to have Chandler's ... More >>

State Rep. Wants to Ban Lethal Injections, Offer Inmates Choice of Firing Squad or Electrocution

sodahead.comAre you a sissy who doesn't like lethal injection? Try "a .45 caliber lead cocktail instead."​Florida's method of executing death-row inmates by lethal injection is just causing too much controversy, so State Rep. Brad Drake wants to end the practice.Drake has filed a bill to give the ... More >>

Rick Scott Inks Another Death Warrant: 65-Year-Old Oba Chandler Is Next

Florida Department of CorrectionsOba Chandler​Gov. Rick Scott signed a death warrant to give a lethal juicing to the second inmate of his governorship -- this time for 65-year-old triple murderer Oba Chandler.The execution is scheduled for 4 p.m. on November 15, but don't be surprised if that does ... More >>

Manuel Valle Execution: Cruel and Unusual Punishment?

​Manuel Valle was executed by the State of Florida at 7:14 p.m. Wednesday after the many appeals filed on his behalf were denied.Just before the execution was scheduled to take place at 4 p.m., the U.S. Supreme Court delayed it to briefly take a look at the case.A stay of execution was denied, but ... More >>

Florida Death-Row Facts, Including Last-Meal Parameters and the Executioner's Paycheck

​It's been nearly 20 months since the last execution of a prisoner by the State of Florida, and in anticipation of South Florida cop killer Manuel Valle's lethal injection at 4 p.m. today, we decided today would be a good day to drop some death-row knowledge.Valle, 61, was convicted of killing Cor ... More >>

Manuel Valle Executed After Stay Denied by United States Supreme Court

Florida Department of CorrectionsManuel Valle​South Florida cop killer Manuel Valle was executed by lethal injection inside the Florida State Prison at 7:14 p.m. today.Valle came within minutes of dying earlier in the day, before the U.S. Supreme Court halted the lethal injection for several h ... More >>

Manuel Valle Execution Draws Florida Supreme Court Petition From Irish Neurologist

Florida Department of CorrectionsManuel Valle, sheduled to die tomorrow at 4 p.m.​The execution of convicted South Florida cop killer Manuel Valle has been petitioned in the Florida Supreme Court yet again over issues with the new lethal injection drug, this time with the objection of a Northern I ... More >>

Florida Supreme Court Quickly Dismisses Latest Manuel Valle Appeal

​Well, that was quick. Less than an hour ago, the Florida Supreme Court released a ruling saying the court will not hear the latest petition over issues with the new lethal injection drug to be used in Manuel Valle's execution.Yesterday, Northern Irish neurologist Dr. David Nicholl asked the court ... More >>

State Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda Files Bill to Repeal Florida's Death Penalty

motifake.com​On the verge of the state's first lethal injection under the regime of Gov. Rick Scott -- convicted cop killer Manuel Valle is scheduled to be executed at 4 p.m. tomorrow -- State Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda of Tallahassee has filed a bill that would end executions in Florid ... More >>

Manuel Valle Denied Stay of Execution by Florida Supreme Court; Death Date Remains

Florida Department of CorrectionsManuel Valle, scheduled to die on September 28.​South Florida cop killer Manuel Valle's petition asking for a stay of execution was denied today by the Florida Supreme Court.His scheduled date with death remains September 28, 2011, at 4 p.m.Valle's lawyers filed th ... More >>

Manuel Valle's Lawyers File Another Petition With the Florida Supreme Court

Florida Department of CorrectionsManuel Valle​The lawyers for South Florida cop killer Manuel Valle have filed a petition with the Florida Supreme Court over clemency proceedings for Valle and have asked the court to stay Valle's scheduled execution... again.Valle, 61, has been given a date to die ... More >>

Manuel Valle Gets His Third Date With Death: September 28

Florida Department of CorrectionsManuel Valle, now sheduled to die on September 28.​For the third time, convicted South Florida cop killer Manuel Valle has been given a date to die.This time, it's been scheduled for September 28, 2011, at 4 p.m. at the Florida State Prison in Raiford, according to ... More >>

Manuel Valle's Execution Gets the Go-Ahead From Circuit Court Judge

Florida Department of CorrectionsManuel Valle, now sheduled to die on September 1.​Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Jacqueline Hogan Scola cleared one more roadblock to the lethal juicing of South Florida cop killer Manuel Valle.After a hearing ordered by the Florida Supreme Court to decide the effectiven ... More >>

Maker of Drug Used in Florida Lethal Injections Asked Rick Scott Not to Kill People With It

Florida Department of CorrectionsManuel Valle, the subject of the current lethal-injection controversy in Florida.​Florida hasn't tested out the new lethal-injection drug it has planned to start using, but letters to Gov. Rick Scott from the drugmaker's president -- sent before Scott signed off on ... More >>

Manuel Valle, South Florida Cop Killer, Has Execution Delayed by Florida Supreme Court

Florida Department of CorrectionsManuel Valle, now sheduled to die on September 1.​The first jailhouse coup de grâce approved by Gov. Rick Scott has been delayed by the Florida Supreme Court.Manuel Valle -- convicted of killing a Coral Gables cop in 1978 -- was scheduled to be executed on August ... More >>

Rick Scott Signs Off on First Lethal Juicing for South Florida Cop Killer

Florida Department of CorrectionsManuel Valle is scheduled to die on August 2.​Gov. Rick Scott has approved the first jailhouse coup de grace of his governorship, the Miami Herald reports.Manuel Valle -- convicted of killing a Coral Gables cop in 1978 -- is scheduled to be executed on August 2.Acc ... More >>

Federal Judge Declares Florida Death Penalty Unconstitutional; Casey Anthony Fans Hopeful

onthefencewithjesus.com​We'll sum up U.S. District Judge Jose Martinez' 94-page ruling in Evans v. McNeil for you: Florida's death penalty is unconstitutional.The crux of his ruling was a 2002 U.S. Supreme Court ruling -- Ring v. Arizona -- which found that a jury must agree on the aggravating ... More >>

A Happy Hour for Dogs

Febonio Murder Update: Alfaro Ditches Public Defender, Hires Lauderdale Criminal Attorney

Gearing up for some courtroom drama in the Febonio murder case​It looks like the murder trial of Jose Alfaro, charged with the premeditated, first-degree murder of his friend Steve Febonio, is gearing up to be a cliff-hanger. This month, state prosecutors told West Palm Beach Judge Amy Smith that ... More >>

Morning Juice: Still More Questions in Miramar Deaths; End of the Line for Broward Murderer on Death Row

​Here what's happening this morning in South Florida:CBS4 has video that includes a photo of the two victims of a shooting in Miramar -- Faith Bisasor and her son Damion Bishop -- as well as an interview with a family friend who says Bisasor never opened the door to strangers. The Sun-Sentinel add ... More >>

Death Penalty Case: Man Will Die August 19 for Dania Beach Murder

John Marek​On August 19, 48-year-old John Marek will be put to death by the State of Florida unless there is a major last-minute intervention by the governor or the courts. In 1983, Marek and a friend, Raymond Wigley, drove to Florida from Texas. On June 16 of that year, the two men encountered t ... More >>

The Infamous Holland Correction

Okay, I say a couple nice things about departed Sun-Sentinel reporter John Holland and the knives start flying. The Holland haters bring up an eight-year-old correction which one commenter calls "the longest and most embarrassing front-page retraction in the Sun-Sentinel's history." I remember that ... More >>

Jeanette Smith’s body was dumped in Florida’s Everglades and turned up details about the Mob

Justice Severed

Maharaj went from the high life to a life sentence — 20 years so far for a crime he may not have committed

Teen Killers Won't Get Death

You've Come A Long Way, Sparky

Killing Them Softly

Someone Has To Die Tonight, Again

Muscles, Murder, and a Messiah, Part 2

Gil Fernandez Jr. could be responsible for as many as nine murders. If he's truly repentant, his former prosecutor says, he needs to confess his sins.

Various Artists

The Very Best of Death Row (Tha Row)

Crazy to Kill

In October 2002, they finally led Aileen Wuornos to where she wanted to go: the death chamber

Too Dumb to Die

Kevin Moore's case raises questions about executing the mentally disabled

United States of Jesus

The folks who are "reclaiming America for Christ" are pushing an agenda for a Taliban-like state where Scripture is law

De Regier

Plumbing the depths of the Christian Taliban

The Captain of Deceit Strikes Again

Richard Scheff still can't get the story of the Frank Lee Smith case straight -- and he doesn't seem to care

A Sorry Excuse

Ken Jenne's department helped convict the wrong man. Why won't he and Jeb Bush admit it?

A Single Hair

After a severely flawed trial, Michael Rivera was convicted of killing a little girl. New DNA evidence may help him.

Dead Head

Mr. Death

Dead Man Waiting

Billy Elledge brutally raped and murdered a woman in Hollywood 25 years ago. He has sat in prison since then, evidence that Florida's death penalty isn't working.

Rapper's Demise

Conspiracy, She Wrote

For years private detective Virginia Snyder has accused the Delray Beach police of corruption. Now she's taking them to court.

Forget Shorty, Get Marvin!

How novelist Elmore Leonard's friendship with Palm Beach County criminal judge Marvin Mounts led to a popular book and a new TV show