Florida Executes Seventh Inmate of 2023: Thomas Lee Gudinas
Thomas Lee Gudinas, convicted of rape and murder, was executed in Florida, marking the seventh execution in the state this year, with another scheduled soon.
Overview
- Thomas Lee Gudinas, 51, was executed by lethal injection in Florida state prison.
- He was convicted for the rape and murder of Michelle McGrath.
- This execution marks the seventh in Florida in 2023.
- An eighth execution is scheduled for next month in the state.
- The case has drawn attention to Florida's capital punishment practices.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources present the execution of a Florida man with a focus on factual reporting, emphasizing the event's significance within the broader context of U.S. executions. They exhibit a somber tone, reflecting on the moral implications of capital punishment while maintaining a neutral stance, allowing readers to form their own opinions.
McGrath's family described her as funny, caring, and full of life.
Gudinas' attorneys argued he was too mentally ill to be executed.
McGrath's family dismissed Gudinas' mental illness claims as legal wrangling.
Articles (3)
Center (2)
"…The crime shocked the people of Orlando and got so much publicity that Gudinas' trial was moved about 200 miles south to Naples."
USA TODAY·7d·"…Executions have been carried out in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas."
Associated Press·7d·FAQ
Thomas Lee Gudinas was convicted for the rape and murder of Michelle McGrath in 1994. McGrath was last seen leaving a nightclub in Orlando and was found several hours later in an alley near a school, showing signs of severe trauma and sexual assault. Witnesses placed Gudinas at the scene, and another woman testified he had threatened her earlier that night.
Gudinas's lawyers argued that he should be spared due to lifelong mental illness and severe childhood trauma, including physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. They highlighted that he was diagnosed with multiple psychiatric and developmental issues but did not receive adequate long-term treatment. However, the Florida Supreme Court rejected the claim, stating that protections for intellectually disabled individuals do not extend to other mental or psychological conditions.
Florida has executed seven people in 2023, making it the state with the highest number of executions in the United States this year. Nationally, 23 people have been executed so far in 2025, with Florida leading, followed by Texas and South Carolina with four executions each.
Gudinas's attorneys filed a federal appeal arguing that Florida's system allowing the governor sole discretion to issue death warrants violates due process and results in an arbitrary system. However, the U.S. Supreme Court did not rule on this issue before his execution took place.
Advocacy groups, including Catholics Mobilizing, opposed the execution, citing Gudinas's traumatic childhood, mental health struggles, and the ethical stance that capital punishment violates the dignity of human life. They urged Governor DeSantis and the Florida Board of Executive Clemency to grant clemency and stop the execution, emphasizing a need for compassion toward vulnerable individuals rather than punishment.
History
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