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Florida Sets May 21 Execution For Richard Knight In 2000 Double Murder
Florida has set May 21 as the execution date for Richard Knight, convicted in a 2000 double murder that included a small child. Knight was convicted for the 2000 killings after a trial and has remained on death row since. Florida authorities set the date for May 21 and court paperwork reflects pending appeals.
Coverage emphasized that one victim was a small child, drawing attention and public reaction on social media. Advocates on both sides of the death-penalty debate used the case to argue for either clemency or strict enforcement of capital sentences. Fox News reported the execution date; local court filings will determine the final legal steps before May 21.
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đ Key Facts
- Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a death warrant scheduling Richard Knight's execution for May 21 at Florida State Prison in Starke.
- Knight was convicted of the 2000 murders of Odessia Stephens and her 4-year-old daughter, Hanessia Mullings, stabbed and strangled in their bedroom.
- A judge sentenced Knight to death in 2007 after a unanimous jury recommendation, and multiple appeals have been denied.
- Florida executed 19 people in 2025, more than any other state, and has already carried out five executions in 2026.
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April 23, 2026