Florida executed a 77-year-old man for a 1995 murder after the United States Supreme Court denied a last-minute stay.
Story Snapshot
- Florida executed Curtis Wilkie Beasley by lethal injection; he was pronounced dead at 6:12 p.m.
- Courts upheld Beasley’s convictions for first-degree murder, robbery, and grand theft auto from a 1995 killing.
- The United States Supreme Court denied a stay and certiorari on the day of the execution.
- Governor Ron DeSantis signed the execution warrant setting the September 29, 2026 date.
Florida Carries Out Execution After Decades of Litigation
Florida officials executed Curtis Wilkie Beasley at Florida State Prison on September 29, 2026. The Florida Department of Corrections said he received a lethal injection and was pronounced dead at 6:12 p.m. The execution ended a decades-long case tied to the 1995 killing of Carolyn Monfort. State records and news reports confirm the timeline and method of execution, which had been set under a signed death warrant. The state reported the process followed the schedule and the prescribed protocol.
State courts and federal courts reviewed Beasley’s appeals over many years. A federal order described his imprisonment for Monfort’s 1995 bludgeoning and noted the signed warrant. The United States Supreme Court docket shows the final moves. On the day of the execution, the Court denied his emergency application for a stay and denied his petition for review. Those actions closed the last path for delay. Officials then proceeded as the warrant directed.
Convictions and the Warrant that Set the Date
Records and reporting identify Beasley’s convictions for first-degree murder, robbery, and grand theft auto linked to the 1995 crime. The Associated Press detailed those counts in coverage of the execution. Florida media reported that Governor Ron DeSantis issued the warrant on August 31, 2026. The warrant set the execution at Florida State Prison and specified lethal injection as the method. Those actions provided the legal authority and timetable for the punishment.
The United States Supreme Court docket for No. 26-5678 lists the capital case and links to the Florida Supreme Court proceeding. The docket shows the emergency filings that sought a last-minute halt. The Court denied both the stay and the petition on September 29, 2026. That docket entry is the formal record of the Court’s final decision. After that, state officials confirmed completion of the execution as scheduled by the warrant.
Florida’s Pace and Public Focus on Law and Order
Florida’s death chamber has been the nation’s busiest in recent years, drawing wide attention to each case. Reporting identified Beasley’s execution as part of a high-volume year for the state, which has emphasized finality after long appeals. For many families and deputies on the front lines, that stance signals resolve against violent crime. Supporters argue that firm, lawful consequences uphold order and respect victims who waited decades for closure.
Some outlets highlighted Beasley’s age and his continued claim of innocence. Those points appeared in coverage alongside the official record of convictions and court denials. The courts’ decisions and the Governor’s warrant remain the controlling facts that allowed the execution. One truth can stand with another: mercy debates will continue, but the law demands clear authority and process. Here, the record shows the state followed its rules to carry out the sentence.
Sources:
alligator.org, upi.com, ecf.flmd.uscourts.gov, usatoday.com, apnews.com, wusf.org
