Florida carries out 18th execution of 2025; 19th set for Dec. 18
Florida executed Mark Allen Geralds, 58, who was convicted in a 1989 home‑invasion killing, and he was pronounced dead at 6:15 p.m. at Florida State Prison after brief final words ("I'm sorry that I missed you... I loved you every day") as witnesses described physical reactions during the injection. The execution was Florida’s 18th of 2025—extending the state’s single‑year record and leaving Florida with the most executions of any state this year (44 nationwide so far); the state uses a three‑drug lethal‑injection protocol, and the next Florida execution is scheduled for Frank Athen Walls on Dec. 18.
📌 Key Facts
- Mark Allen Geralds, 58, was executed and pronounced dead at 6:15 p.m. at Florida State Prison.
- Witnesses said Geralds spoke brief last words — "I'm sorry that I missed you... I loved you every day" — and exhibited physical reactions during the injection.
- The execution was Florida's 18th in 2025, extending the state's single-year record and making Florida the lead state in executions this year.
- The nationwide total of executions in 2025 stands at 44 so far.
- Florida's next scheduled execution is of Frank Athen Walls on Dec. 18.
- Florida Department of Corrections' protocol for lethal injections uses a three-drug sequence: a sedative, a paralytic, and a heart‑stopping drug.
- Historical context: Florida's previous annual high for executions was eight in 2014.
📊 Relevant Data
In 2023, Florida enacted a law allowing a death sentence to be recommended by a jury vote of at least 8-4, lowering the previous requirement of a unanimous 12-0 vote.
DeSantis signs law allowing 8 jurors, not 12, to recommend death penalty — lowest in U.S. — Florida Phoenix
In 2025, of the 45 people executed in the United States, 30 (67%) were White, 14 (31%) were Black, and 1 (2%) was Hispanic.
List of people executed in the United States in 2025 — Wikipedia
In 2023, the homicide victimization rate for Black persons in the United States was 21.3 per 100,000, compared to 3.2 per 100,000 for White persons, with Blacks comprising 13.7% of the population and Whites 74.8%.
Homicide Victimization in the United States, 2023 — Bureau of Justice Statistics
Florida's homicide rate in 2023 was 4.8 per 100,000 population, compared to the national average of 5.9 per 100,000.
List of U.S. states by intentional homicide rate — Wikipedia
📰 Sources (2)
- Mark Allen Geralds, 58, was executed and pronounced dead at 6:15 p.m. at Florida State Prison.
- Witness details: brief last words (“I'm sorry that I missed you... I loved you every day”) and physical reactions during the injection.
- Confirms this is Florida’s 18th execution in 2025, extending the state’s single‑year record; Florida leads all states this year.
- Nationwide total stands at 44 executions so far in 2025.
- Next Florida execution scheduled: Frank Athen Walls on Dec. 18.
- Florida DOC protocol: three‑drug sequence (sedative, paralytic, heart‑stopping drug).
- Historical note: Florida’s previous annual high was eight executions in 2014.