Governor Ron DeSantis signed a death warrant this week for Jesse Guardado, convicted in the 2004 Walton County murder of 75-year-old Jackie Malone. Guardado stabbed Malone multiple times before taking her purse, jewelry box, briefcase and cellphone. He pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and robbery with a weapon without a plea agreement. His execution is scheduled for November 5.
The warrant adds to a striking statistic. Florida has now carried out 16 executions this year, the most of any state in the country, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. That pace is the fastest Florida has seen in decades and puts the state at the center of the national debate over capital punishment.
For Suncoast residents, the story raises questions that hit close to home, from how the state handles its most serious crimes to what justice looks like for victims and their families more than twenty years later. Supporters and critics both have strong cases to make, and the conversation isn’t going anywhere as the November date approaches.
Where do you stand on Florida’s execution pace this year? Share your thoughts in the comments.
