A Florida death row inmate is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection at noon on Tuesday, October 13th, 2026. James Robertson, 62, was convicted of strangling his cellmate, Frank Hart, at Charlotte Correctional Institution on December 10th, 2008. Prosecutors say Robertson tied several socks together and used them to choke Hart. Governor Ron DeSantis signed the death warrant on Thursday.
What sets this case apart is the motive. Investigators say Robertson told them he killed Hart specifically because he wanted a first-degree murder charge and a death sentence. He told them he had been in Florida’s prison system since 1980 and was tired of prison life. Robertson has been on death row since 2012, and he waived his appeals after sentencing, clearing the way for the state to proceed.
If the execution is carried out, it would be Florida’s 17th of 2026, a pace that has reignited debate over capital punishment across the state. Supporters point to the will of juries and the closure executions can bring. Critics question the speed and cost of the process, and whether a system that allows someone to waive appeals should move this quickly. Wherever you stand, the numbers this year are hard to ignore.
What’s your reaction to Florida’s execution pace in 2026? Sound off in the comments or call into the show.
