Latest news with #ThomasLeeGudinas
Associated Press
02-07-2025
- Associated Press
Man who killed his family after his wife sought a divorce is set for execution in Florida
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A man who killed his wife and two children in 1994 after she sought a divorce is scheduled for execution in Florida under a death warrant signed Tuesday by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. Edward J. Zakrzewski, II, is set to die July 31 in the ninth execution scheduled for this year in the state. He pleaded guilty in 1996 to three counts of first-degree murder and received three death sentences in the killings of wife Sylvia Zakrzewski, son Edward Zakrzewski, 7, and Anna Zakrzewski, 5. The man beat his wife with a crowbar and machete and strangled her to death and killed the children with a machete June 9, 1994, in Okaloosa County. He eventually turned himself into law enforcement after the case was profiled on the television show 'Unsolved Mysteries,' according to court documents. Another man on death row, Michael Bernard Bell, 54, is set to die by lethal injection July 15 at Florida State Prison. He's convicted of killing two people outside a bar. Thomas Lee Gudinas, 51, who was convicted of raping and killing a woman in Florida, was executed following a lethal injection at the same prison last week. The state also executed six people in 2023 but only carried out one execution last year.
CBS News
25-06-2025
- CBS News
Man executed for raping, killing Florida woman outside bar
A man convicted of raping and killing a woman near a central Florida bar was executed Tuesday evening. Thomas Lee Gudinas, 51, received a lethal injection at Florida State Prison near Starke, following decades on death row for the 1994 killing of Michelle McGrath. His execution proceeded as scheduled after last-day appeals were denied. Gudinas became the seventh person executed in Florida this year, with an eighth execution scheduled for next month. The state executed six people in 2023, compared to only one the year before. So far, 23 people have been executed in the U.S. in 2025. Scheduled executions are on pace to make this the busiest year for capital punishment since 2015. Florida leads the nation in executions this year, followed by Texas and South Carolina with four each. Alabama has carried out three, while Oklahoma has executed two. Arizona, Indiana, Louisiana, and Tennessee have each executed one person. Mississippi is scheduled to carry out its first execution since 2022 on Wednesday. Gudinas' lawyers had argued that he should be spared due to what they described as lifelong mental illness, but the Florida Supreme Court rejected that claim last week, ruling that protections for intellectually disabled individuals do not extend to those with other mental or psychological conditions. McGrath was last seen leaving Barbarella's, a downtown Orlando nightclub, shortly before 3 a.m. on May 24, 1994. Her body was found several hours later in an alley near a nearby school, showing signs of severe trauma and sexual assault. Witnesses placed Gudinas at the scene, and another woman testified that he had chased and threatened her earlier that same night. He was convicted and sentenced to death in 1995. His attorneys also filed a federal appeal arguing that Florida's system of allowing the governor sole discretion to issue death warrants violates due process and results in an arbitrary system. The U.S. Supreme Court had not ruled on the issue before the execution took place.
Daily Record
25-06-2025
- Daily Record
Rapist and killer executed on death row 30 years after crimes
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.
Daily Mirror
25-06-2025
- Daily Mirror
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.
The Guardian
24-06-2025
- The Guardian
Man convicted in 1994 rape and murder of Michelle McGrath put to death in Florida
A man convicted of raping and killing a woman near a central Florida bar was executed Tuesday evening. Thomas Lee Gudinas, 51, was pronounced dead at 6.13pm after receiving a lethal injection at Florida State Prison near Starke, said Bryan Griffin, a spokesperson for the governor, Ron DeSantis. Gudinas had been convicted in the May 1994 killing of Michelle McGrath. When the curtain to the execution room opened at 6.00pm, Gudinas was already strapped to a gurney with an IV in his left arm. Then, after the warden got off the phone with the governor's office, he asked Gudinas whether he wanted to make a last statement. Although Gudinas's words were inaudible to those in the viewing room, Griffin said he repented and made a reference to Jesus. The drugs were administered, and Gudinas's eyes began to roll back as he underwent slight chest convulsions. After several minutes, he lost color in his face and fell still. The prison warden announced that the sentence had been carried out, the curtain to the execution chamber closed and witnesses were escorted out. Gudinas was the seventh person put to death in Florida this year, with an eighth scheduled for next month. The state executed six people in 2023, and 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 next, with four each. Alabama has executed three people, Oklahoma two, and Arizona, Indiana, Louisiana and Tennessee one. On Wednesday, Mississippi will carry out its first execution since 2022. Despite the increased frequency of executions this year, Florida department of corrections spokesperson Ted Veerman said there's been no significant operational strain. 'Our staff are doing a fantastic job keeping up with the pace of these executions,' Veerman said Tuesday. 'And we are going through with these in a professional manner.' McGrath was last seen at a bar called Barbarella's shortly before 3am on 24 May 1994. Her body, showing evidence of serious trauma and sexual assault, was found several hours later in an alley next to a nearby school. Gudinas had been at the same bar with friends the night before, and they all later testified that they had left without him. A school employee who found McGrath's body later identified Gudinas as a man who had been fleeing the area shortly beforehand. Another woman identified Gudinas as the person who had chased her to her car the previous night and threatened to assault her. Gudinas was convicted and sentenced to death in 1995. Attorneys for Gudinas filed appeals with the Florida supreme court and the US supreme court, which were rejected. The lawyers had argued in their state filing that evidence related to 'lifelong mental illnesses' exempted Gudinas from being put to death. 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. Separately, a federal filing argued that the Florida governor's unfettered discretion to sign death warrants violates death row inmates' constitutional rights to due process and has led to an arbitrary process for determining who lives and who dies. The US supreme court on Tuesday denied Gudinas's request for a stay of execution. Officials said Gudinas had one visitor, his mother, on Tuesday and did not meet with a spiritual adviser.
