TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida is gearing up for its first scheduled execution of 2025, as Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the death warrant for James Ford on Friday. Ford, a Florida man convicted of murdering a husband and wife during a fishing trip nearly 30 years ago, is set to be executed on Feb. 13 at the Florida State Prison.
The case revolves around the brutal killings of Greg and Kimberly Malnory, whose bodies were discovered at the South Florida Sod Farm in a remote area of Charlotte County on April 7, 1997. Court documents reveal that the Malnorys were bludgeoned and shot, sustaining multiple blunt force head injuries. Tragically, Kimberly had also been subjected to sexual assault. Her lifeless body was found in close proximity to the couple’s truck, where their 22-month-old baby had been abandoned for over 18 hours, exposed to the harsh elements and covered in her mother’s blood.
In addition to the murder charges, Ford was convicted of sexual battery and child abuse, further adding to the gravity of the crimes committed.
Ford’s upcoming execution marks the first in Florida for the year 2025. The previous year saw only one execution in the state, a notable decrease from the six carried out in 2023, a period during which DeSantis was actively vying for the Republican presidential nomination. Notably, in the three years leading up to this current case, the governor had not authorized any executions.
Kate Payne is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that embeds journalists in local newsrooms to shed light on overlooked issues.
