Rapist and killer finally repents as he's executed on death row 30 years later
Thomas Lee Gudinas had been on death row at Florida State Prison near Starke since his conviction in 1995 of the rape and killing of Michelle McGrath in the southeastern state
A murderer was executed on death row today - more than 30 years after raping and killing a woman.
Thomas Lee Gudinas, 51, finally repented moments before he was given the lethal injection at Florida State Prison near Starke. Gudinas died within 14 minutes of the jab, becoming the seventh person to be put to death in Florida alone this year.
His final words were largely inaudible but Bryan Griffin, a spokesman for Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, said the sex attacker repented and made a reference to Jesus. The drugs were administered and Gudinas' eyes began to roll back and he underwent slight chest convulsions. He lost colour in his face and went still after several minutes.
Gudinas was convicted in 1995 of the rape and killing of Michelle McGrath. A court heard the young woman's body, showing evidence of serious trauma and sexual assault, was found in an alley near a school in the early hours of May 24, 1994. It is understood Gudinas met Ms McGrath in or outside a bar in Orlando, Florida, minutes before the heinous attack.
READ MORE: Man brands his flatmate a 'disgusting slob' - and is then found dead days later
An eighth execution is scheduled in Florida in July. The state also executed six people in 2023, but only carried out one execution last year. A total of 24 men have been put to death in the US this year, with scheduled executions set to make 2025 the year with the most executions since 2015.
Florida has executed more people than any other state this year, while Texas and South Carolina are tied for second place with four each. Alabama has executed three people, Oklahoma two, and Arizona, Indiana, Louisiana and Tennessee each have one. Mississippi is set to join the other states on Wednesday with its first execution since 2022.
Despite the increased frequency of executions this year, Department of Corrections spokesman Ted Veerman said there's been no significant operational strain. He said yesterday: "Our staff are doing a fantastic job keeping up with the pace of these executions. We are going through with these in a professional manner."
The latest case saw attorneys for Gudinas file appeals with the Florida Supreme Court and the US Supreme Court but those were rejected. The lawyers had argued in their state filing that evidence related to "lifelong mental illnesses" exempted Gudinas from being put to death.
But the Florida Supreme Court denied the appeals last week, ruling that the case law that shields intellectually disabled people from execution does not apply to individuals with other forms of mental illness or brain damage.
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Thomas Lee Gudinas, 51, was killed by lethal injection, more than 30 years after he raped and killed a woman. A killer was put to death on death row today - over 30 years after he raped and murdered a woman. Thomas Lee Gudinas, 51, expressed remorse just moments before receiving the lethal injection at Florida State Prison near Starke. Gudinas passed away within 14 minutes of the injection, becoming the seventh individual to be executed in Florida this year alone. His final utterances were largely unintelligible, but Bryan Griffin, a spokesperson for Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, stated that the sex offender repented and made a reference to Jesus. Following the administration of the drugs, Gudinas' eyes began to roll back and he experienced minor chest convulsions. His face lost colour and became motionless after several minutes. Gudinas was found guilty in 1995 of the rape and murder of Michelle McGrath. The court heard that the young woman's body, bearing signs of severe trauma and sexual assault, was discovered in an alleyway near a school in the early hours of May 24, 1994, reports the Mirror. It is believed that Gudinas encountered Ms McGrath in or outside a bar in Orlando, Florida, just minutes prior to the horrific attack. An eighth execution is planned in Florida in July. The state also executed six individuals in 2023, but only carried out one execution last year. A total of 24 men have been executed in the US this year, with scheduled executions set to make 2025 the year with the most executions since 2015. Florida has been at the forefront of applying the death penalty this year, eclipsing other states like Texas and South Carolina, both of which are tied for second place with four executions each. Alabama follows closely with three, while Oklahoma carried out two, and Arizona, Indiana, Louisiana, and Tennessee have each seen one execution. Mississippi is poised to hold its first execution since 2022 on Wednesday. Amidst a surge in executions this year, Department of Corrections spokesperson Ted Veerman remarked there hasn't been a noticeable operational burden, stating: "Our staff are doing a fantastic job keeping up with the pace of these executions. We are going through with these in a professional manner." In the most recent development, attorneys for Gudinas pushed for appeals to the Florida Supreme Court as well as the US Supreme Court, to no avail. The appellants cited "lifelong mental illnesses" as reasons for their client's exemption from the death penalty. Nevertheless, the Florida Supreme Court rejected these appeals just last week, asserting that the legal precedents safeguarding intellectually disabled individuals from capital punishment do not extend to those with other types of mental disorders or brain injuries.
