STARKE, Fla. – A Florida man convicted of killing his girlfriend, her mom and a person he mentioned owed him cash greater than 30 years in the past was put to demise on Thursday, extending the file variety of executions carried out within the Sunshine State to 11 up to now this 12 months.
Curtis Windom, 59, died by deadly injection at 6:17 p.m. at Florida State Jail close to Starke on Thursday, based on The Related Press. He was convicted within the Nov. 7, 1992, killings of his girlfriend Valerie Davis, her mom Mary Lubin and Johnnie Lee, who he claimed owed him $2,000.
Windom’s face was lined by a sheet when the curtain was raised to the demise chamber shortly earlier than the injection was set to start, The AP reported. When the medication have been administered, he started taking deep breaths and his legs twitched a number of occasions earlier than he stopped shifting.
Davis’ sister Kemene Hunter wore a T-shirt to a information convention following the execution that learn, “Justice for her, therapeutic for me.”
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Curtis Windom, 59, was pronounced lifeless at 6:17 p.m. at Florida State Jail close to Starke. (Florida Division of Corrections)
“All I wish to say is, it took 33 years to get some closure,” Hunter mentioned, including that “vengeance is mine says the Lord.”
On the day of the three killings, a good friend informed Windom that Lee had gained $114 at a greyhound racetrack, based on courtroom information. Windom responded to the good friend that “you are gonna examine me” and that he deliberate to kill the person who owed him cash.
Windom went to a Walmart and bought a .38-caliber revolver and a field of fifty shells, based on courtroom testimony. A short while later, Windom drove seeking Lee and shot him twice within the again from his automobile earlier than firing two extra photographs standing at shut vary.
After that killing, Windom went to Davis’ condominium and shot and killed her in entrance of a good friend “with no provocation,” courtroom information confirmed. Windom then shot and wounded one other man earlier than fatally taking pictures Davis’ mom in her automobile at a cease signal as she drove to her daughter’s condominium.
He was sentenced to demise for the three murders and given a 22-year sentence for the tried homicide.
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Davis was the mom of one in all Windom’s kids, who had sought to cease her father’s execution.
“Forgiveness comes with time, and 33 years is a very long time,” Curtisia Windom mentioned in a press release. “I, myself, have forgiven my father.”
Family members and mates of the three homicide victims additionally launched a joint assertion saying that they nonetheless beloved and cared for Windom and that Florida officers had informed them there was nothing they might do to cease the execution that they had campaigned to forestall.
“33 years in the past, Curtis Windom took the lives of our mom Valerie Davis, grandmother Mary Lubin, and expensive household good friend Johnny Lee,” the assertion mentioned. “Whether or not the occasions of that day made us the surviving victims of a violent crime, the kinfolk of an individual dealing with execution, or each, we now have all lived our lives carrying a label that the state of Florida determined ought to outline and divide us. We haven’t allowed that to occur, although. We have now continued to like and take care of one another, educating our kids that there isn’t any use in punishing the numerous for the acts of the few.”
“Most of all, we now have continued to like and take care of Curtis,” it continued. “We have now celebrated graduations and weddings over the cellphone. We have now introduced his grandchildren to go to him at Florida State Jail. We have now constructed connections regardless of the visitation glass and cell bars. We have now forgiven him.”
The assertion added that they “will proceed to reject the labels that we got.”
“We’re heartbroken that the State of Florida didn’t hearken to our pleas,” the assertion mentioned. “And we’re dedicated to persevering with to inform our story.”
Windom and his legal professionals filed a number of appeals, arguing that he was represented by an incompetent lawyer when presenting proof of psychological well being struggles.
Windom’s remaining attraction was rejected by the U.S. Supreme Courtroom on Wednesday.
“Forgiveness and therapeutic don’t come from a deadly injection within the demise chamber. They arrive from the households’ a long time of conversations, visits, and cellphone calls with Curtis, the place he demonstrated regret and redemption,” Floridians for Options to the Demise Penalty mentioned in a press release. “They arrive from Curtis constructing new relationships with the folks he has so deeply damage. They arrive from exhibiting a brand new technology of Windoms that there’s a hope for a much less violent future. His execution tonight stopped that therapeutic in its tracks, and changed it with new ache.”
“Governor DeSantis doesn’t communicate for all victims’ households,” the group added. “Tonight’s execution wasn’t about justice. It was about flexing political muscle.”
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Windom’s execution extends Florida’s file this 12 months following quite a few demise warrants signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. The state’s twelfth execution this 12 months is ready for Sept. 17.Â
The Sunshine State has executed extra folks this 12 months than another state, with Texas and South Carolina tied for the second-most with 4 every. Throughout the U.S., 30 folks have been executed up to now in 2025.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
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