by Starke, Fla. – A Florida man, Norman Mearle Grim Jr., was executed Tuesday evening after being convicted of the brutal 1998 rape and murder of his neighbor, Cynthia Campbell. This marks the 15th execution carried out in Florida in 2025, a record-setting year for the state.
Details of the Execution
At precisely 6 p.m., the curtain to the death chamber at Florida State Prison near Starke rose, revealing Grim strapped to a table with an IV already in place. When asked if he wished to make a final statement, Grim responded, “No, sir.” The three-drug lethal injection began shortly thereafter. Grim’s breathing grew heavy and he displayed slight twitching before eventually ceasing all movement. He was declared dead at 6:14 p.m. after medical verification.
Crime and Conviction Background
Grim was convicted in 2000 for the first-degree murder and sexual battery involving his next-door neighbor, Cynthia Campbell. In July 1998, Campbell was reported missing, and her battered body was found in waters near the Pensacola Bay Bridge by a fisherman.
- Campbell suffered multiple blunt-force injuries consistent with being struck by a hammer.
- She also sustained 11 stab wounds, seven of which penetrated her heart.
- DNA evidence and other physical proof tied Grim directly to the crime.
“The physical evidence, including DNA, conclusively connected Grim to the heinous murder of his neighbor,” prosecutors noted during the trial.
Florida’s Record-Setting Execution Year
Since the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976, Florida’s previous annual high for executions was eight in 2014. In 2025, Florida has already executed 15 inmates—the highest in the nation—followed by Texas and Alabama with five each.
Once a death warrant is signed, inmates can appeal to the Florida Supreme Court or the U.S. Supreme Court, but Grim elected to waive all future appeals. He did not meet with visitors or spiritual advisers prior to the execution.
According to the source report, Florida’s lethal injection protocol involves a sedative, a paralytic, and a heart-stopping drug.
Upcoming Executions in Florida
Two more executions are scheduled in Florida next month under death warrants signed by Governor Ron DeSantis:
- Bryan Fredrick Jennings, 66, slated for execution on November 13 for the rape and murder of a 6-year-old girl in 1979.
- Richard Barry Randolph, 63, scheduled for execution on November 20 for the 1988 rape and fatal beating of a former manager.
Read Also: Wisconsin Daycare Worker Charged with Child Abuse After Allegedly Breaking Baby’s Arm
The Broader Context of the Death Penalty
So far this year, 40 men have been executed across the U.S., with at least 18 more scheduled executions through 2025 and into next year. Florida’s pace marks it as a leader in carrying out capital punishment.
Florida’s Capital Punishment Process
- Lethal injections consist of three drugs: a sedative, a paralytic, and a drug that stops the heart.
- Executions occur at Florida State Prison near Starke.
- Death warrants are signed by the Governor, with appellate processes available until the inmate waives rights.
Looking Ahead
The increasing number of executions in Florida has sparked ongoing debates about capital punishment’s role and ethics in the state. As upcoming executions proceed, state officials and the public continue to watch closely.
What do you think about this development in Florida’s use of the death penalty? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
