Florida Governor Signs Record-Setting Death Warrant for Edward Zakrzewski
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a death warrant for Edward Zakrzewski, convicted of a 1994 triple murder. His execution, the ninth in 2025, sets a new state record, despite a rejected Supreme Court appeal and opposition calls for a stay.
Overview
- Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a death warrant for 60-year-old Edward Zakrzewski, scheduled for execution by lethal injection, marking a significant state action.
- This execution will be Florida's ninth in 2025, setting a new state record for the highest number of death sentences carried out in a single year, indicating a notable trend.
- Zakrzewski was convicted in 1994 for the brutal murder of his wife and two children with a machete, leading to the impending execution after decades on death row.
- The U.S. Supreme Court rejected Zakrzewski's final appeal for a stay, thereby clearing the legal path for the record-setting execution to proceed as planned in Florida.
- Opponents, including The Action Network, are urging Governor DeSantis to grant a stay, highlighting Zakrzewski's military service and a 7-5 jury vote during his conviction.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources cover this story neutrally by presenting a comprehensive factual account of the execution and its context. They include details from both the prosecution and defense, as well as broader statistics and expert opinions, allowing readers to form their own conclusions without overt editorial bias.
"Florida's execution of a former Air Force sergeant in the machete murders of his family is the state's ninth this year, a record in the state's modern history."
USA TODAY"Florida has executed more people than any other state this year, while Texas and South Carolina are tied for second place with four each."
CBS News"Florida is set to execute a man convicted of brutally killing his wife and two children, marking a grim milestone with nine executions in a single year."
Associated Press"Florida has executed more inmates this year that any other state, with Gov. Ron DeSantis making the issue a priority, saying in May that he wants to bring closure to families who've been waiting sometimes decades for their loved one's killer to be executed."
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FAQ
Edward Zakrzewski was convicted of the 1994 murders of his wife, Sylvia, and their two children, Anna and Edward III, which he committed by beating, stabbing, and strangling with a machete and crowbar.
Zakrzewski's execution is the ninth in Florida in 2025, setting a new state record for the highest number of executions carried out in a single year.
The U.S. Supreme Court rejected Zakrzewski's final appeal for a stay of execution, clearing the way for his execution to be carried out as planned.
Opponents, including The Action Network, have called on Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to grant a stay of execution, citing Zakrzewski's military service and the fact that his conviction was reached by a 7-5 jury vote.
Zakrzewski's wife sought a divorce, which he opposed; he bought a machete on the day of the murders, attacked his wife with a crowbar and machete and strangled her, then killed his children, who suffered defensive wounds trying to protect themselves.
History
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