by Starke, FL – Samuel Lee Smithers, 72, a Florida man convicted of the brutal murders of two women whose bodies were discovered in a rural pond, is scheduled for execution on Tuesday evening at Florida State Prison near Starke. This lethal injection marks Florida’s 14th execution in 2025, setting a new state record for the number of executions carried out within a single year.
Details of the Murders and Conviction
Smithers was convicted in 1999 of two counts of first-degree murder related to the deaths of Christy Cowan and Denise Roach. The women were found in 1996 in a pond on a 27-acre property in Plant City, Florida, where Smithers worked doing landscape maintenance. Court records indicate that Smithers met both victims at a motel in Tampa to pay for sex and later severely beat and strangled them.
On May 28, 1996, the property owner, who knew Smithers through church (where he was a Baptist deacon), discovered blood near the carport and suspicious behavior from Smithers, who tried to explain the blood as coming from a small animal. However, authorities found drag marks leading to the pond, where the women’s bodies were recovered, confirming the violent nature of the crimes.
Legal Proceedings and Appeals
Despite his age, Smithers’ execution was approved by the Florida Supreme Court following an appeal by his attorneys, who argued that executing an elderly man would violate the U.S. Constitution’s prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. The court ruled that advanced age does not grant exemption from the death penalty, even though Smithers would be among the oldest individuals executed in Florida.
“The elderly are not categorically exempt from the death penalty,” the court stated in its ruling.
An appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court is still pending. The case and its implications have attracted attention amid Florida’s record-setting execution rate this year.
Florida’s Execution Statistics and Upcoming Cases
Florida continues to lead the nation in executions for 2025, with a total of 14 so far, surpassing Texas with five. Since the reinstatement of the death penalty in 1976, Florida’s previous record was eight executions in 2014.
- Executions in Florida are conducted via a three-drug injection protocol involving a sedative, paralytic, and a heart-stopping agent.
- Upcoming executions include Norman Mearle Grim Jr., 65, set for October 28, convicted of rape and murder in 1998.
- Bryan Fredrick Jennings, 66, scheduled for November 13, convicted of abducting, raping, and killing a 6-year-old girl in 1979.
Experts and observers note the growing number of executions discussed and carried out this year, marking a significant trend in Florida’s justice system.
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For detailed information, visit the official report at NBC News.
Looking Ahead
This execution continues to highlight critical debates surrounding the death penalty, especially regarding the age and health of inmates facing lethal injection. While Florida sets records for executions, questions about justice and ethics remain at the forefront.
What do you think about the state’s continued use of the death penalty? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
