Florida executes 19th inmate this year for 2004 Walton County murder

Florida carried out its 19th execution of the year by lethal injection, according to WUSF, with Jesse Guardado pronounced dead at 6:13 p.m. Guardado was convicted of murdering a 75-year-old woman from Walton County in 2004 who had helped him after his release from jail.

The execution matches the total number of executions in Florida in 2025, which was the highest annual figure since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. Governor Ron DeSantis, who will leave office in January, has signed two more execution warrants that would set a new record and bring his total executions to 49 during his tenure.

Guardado was already strapped to a gurney with an IV when the lethal injection began promptly at 6 p.m. He apologized for the pain caused to the victim's family and his own before the drugs were administered. After breathing heavily and twitching, he was declared dead by a medic.

Legal efforts to delay the execution were denied by both the U.S. Supreme Court and Florida Supreme Court. Guardado’s attorneys had challenged Florida’s clemency process and lethal injection protocol, but these appeals were unsuccessful.

The victim’s son expressed frustration toward opponents of the death penalty, emphasizing the lasting impact on victims’ families. Governor DeSantis has stated his commitment to delivering justice for victims’ families by ensuring executions proceed after all appeals are exhausted.