A man who had consistently maintained his innocence in the rape and murder case of his neighbor from 27 years ago was executed today on death row. Norman Mearle Grim Jr, aged 65, was convicted of the sexual assault and first-degree murder of Cynthia Campbell, despite his denial during the trial. He underwent a lethal three-drug injection in Florida, marking the state’s 15th execution this year.
When asked if he wanted to make a final statement, Grim replied, “No sir.” Following this, he received the injection, resulting in heavy breathing and slight twitching before being pronounced dead, nearly three decades after Campbell’s tragic demise.
Campbell was reported missing in 1998, and her body, showing signs of brutal force, was discovered near the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Florida. Prosecutors revealed that she suffered severe blunt-force injuries to her face and head, consistent with hammer blows, along with 11 stab wounds to her chest, with seven penetrating her heart. Grim’s connection to the crime was established through DNA evidence.
Despite his persistent denial, Grim was found guilty in a 2000 trial and sentenced to death, which was carried out 27 years later. This execution marks the highest number of Florida executions in a year since the reinstitution of the death penalty by the US Supreme Court in 1976, surpassing the previous record of eight in 2014. Florida has led the nation in executions this year, followed by Texas and Alabama.
Following the signing of a death warrant and setting of an execution date, inmates have the opportunity to appeal to the Florida Supreme Court and the US Supreme Court. Grim did not have any visitors or meet with a spiritual adviser on his final day. With 40 court-ordered executions in the US this year, at least 18 more individuals are scheduled for execution through the end of 2025 and into the next year.
Florida’s lead in executions continues, with two more scheduled for next month. Bryan Fredrick Jennings, aged 66, is set to be the 16th execution in Florida on November 13. Jennings was convicted of the rape and murder of a six-year-old girl in 1979, following a home invasion and abduction in central Florida.
