A convict facing execution on death row offered his final words as an apology to the family of a police officer he fatally shot 35 years ago. Billy Leon Kearse, aged 53, was put to death in Florida today for the murder of Danny Parrish, marking the third execution in the state this year.
During the execution at Florida State Prison near Starke, Kearse expressed remorse to the victim’s family, some of whom were present to witness the lethal injection. PC Parrish’s widow, Mirtha Busbin, expressed surprise at Kearse’s apology but stated her willingness to forgive him, emphasizing the need to move forward after a lengthy 35-year ordeal.
Before receiving the lethal injection, Kearse conveyed his heartfelt apology to the victim’s family, acknowledging the gravity of his actions and expressing his inability to make amends. The tragic incident occurred in 1991 when Kearse seized PC Parrish’s service weapon during a confrontation, resulting in a fatal shooting after a vehicle stop.
In a show of solidarity, police officers gathered to support PC Parrish’s family during the execution, advocating for swift and severe punishment for individuals who harm or assault law enforcement officers nationwide.
PC Parrish, a sergeant in the US Army, had stopped Kearse’s vehicle for traffic violations, leading to the fatal altercation where Kearse took the officer’s firearm and fired multiple shots. Despite efforts to save him, PC Parrish succumbed to his injuries at a hospital, with Kearse later apprehended at his residence based on information provided during the traffic stop.
Initially convicted of first-degree murder and robbery with a firearm in 1991, Kearse was sentenced to death. Subsequent legal proceedings resulted in a retrial due to procedural errors, leading to Kearse’s reaffirmed death penalty in 1997.
In 2025, a total of 47 individuals were executed in the United States, with Florida recording the highest number of executions. The state’s governor, Ron DeSantis, signed numerous death warrants, surpassing other states like Alabama, South Carolina, and Texas in execution numbers. Florida’s 19 executions that year exceeded previous records set in 1984 and 2014.
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