Florida Set to Make Headlines: First Execution of 2025 for Double Murder Convict

Nearly 30 years after a brutal double murder, a Florida man convicted of killing a husband and wife during a fishing trip is set to face execution next month. The state has scheduled his execution as the first of 2025. Governor Ron DeSantis signed the death warrant for James Ford on Friday, and Ford is set to be executed on February 13 at Florida State Prison.

Ford was sentenced to death for the brutal killings of Greg and Kimberly Malnory, whose bodies were discovered on April 7, 1997, at the South Florida Sod Farm, located in a remote area of Charlotte County. Court documents reveal the horrific details of the crime: the Malnorys had been severely beaten and shot, with both suffering multiple blunt force head injuries.

In addition to the violent deaths of her and her husband, Kimberly Malnory was also sexually assaulted. Her lifeless body was found near the couple’s truck, where their 22-month-old child had been left alone for more than 18 hours. The child was exposed to the harsh elements and covered in her mother’s blood, left to endure a horrific ordeal in the aftermath of the crime.

In addition to being convicted of the murders, James Ford was also found guilty of sexual battery and child abuse in connection with the tragic incident involving the Malnorys. His execution, scheduled for February 13, will be the first to take place in Florida in 2025. In comparison, only one person was executed in 2024, a sharp decrease from the six executions carried out in 2023. The year 2023 marked a notable period when Governor Ron DeSantis was actively campaigning for the Republican presidential nomination, which coincided with a heightened focus on capital punishment. Notably, during the preceding three years, the governor refrained from signing any death warrants, indicating a shift in his approach to executions.

Kate Payne, a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative, contributed to this report. Report for America is a nonprofit program that places journalists in local newsrooms to cover overlooked stories and provide in-depth coverage of important issues.