A 63-year-old convicted murderer, who had been on death row since 1991, was put to death in Florida on Wednesday, marking the 12th execution this year under Governor Ron DeSantis, a record number for the state.
David Joseph Pittman received a lethal injection at the Florida State Prison near Starke following the signing of a death warrant by Governor DeSantis. Pittman, who claimed innocence until the end, was convicted in 1990 for the murders of three individuals in Mulberry, east of Tampa, as well as for arson.
Despite Pittman’s assertions of innocence and appeals for intervention, the execution proceeded without issues. Advocacy groups have criticized the death penalty as a form of violence that does not contribute to safety or justice.
In May 1990, a tragic incident took place where a couple and their daughter were brutally murdered and their house set on fire. Pittman, amidst a divorce and alleged threats towards his in-laws, was found guilty of the horrific crimes.
Pittman’s final appeal was rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court, leading to his execution. While no information was available on visitors during his final moments, two more executions are scheduled in Florida this fall for separate murder cases.
