A man in Florida who was found guilty of shooting and beating a newlywed couple in front of their toddler was finally executed, almost thirty years after committing the gruesome crime. James D. Ford, 64, received a lethal injection at Florida State Prison for the murders of Greg Malnory, 25, and his wife Kimberly, 26. The death warrant was signed by Governor Ron DeSantis on January 10.
Connie Ankney, Greg Malnory’s mother, shared her emotions with Fox News Digital on the day of the execution. She emphasized the importance of never giving up and always fighting for one’s children. She expressed her relief at witnessing justice being served after years of fighting for her son and daughter-in-law. The tragedy of losing a beloved family member was compounded by the fact that Kimberly’s mother did not live to see justice served.
Ankney reflected on the horror that Greg and Kimberly must have experienced that fateful day in 1997 when they were brutally killed while out fishing at South Florida Sod Farm. Their bodies were discovered the following day, with their young daughter Maranda miraculously surviving the ordeal. The couple, who had only been married six months, were robbed of the chance to fully embrace parenthood.
The shocking details of the couple’s deaths, including Greg’s shooting and bludgeoning, and Kimberly’s sexual assault and brutal murder, left Ankney and the community reeling. The revelation of the heinous crimes shattered the sense of security in the small town where such tragedies were unheard of.
Ankney recounted the heart-wrenching moment she learned of her son and daughter-in-law’s deaths, and the disbelief she felt upon hearing the news. The unimaginable loss of their promising young lives was a stark contrast to the joyful memories of their recent wedding in the mountains of Tennessee.
As justice was finally served with Ford’s execution, Ankney and the family sought closure and solace in knowing that the perpetrator had been held accountable for his heinous actions. The family’s journey towards justice had been long and arduous, but their determination to seek justice for Greg and Kimberly never wavered.
The car sat abandoned for over 18 hours, its doors wide open, splattered in her mother’s blood. “It’s just unfathomable… it’s pure evil,” Ankney remarked. “Poor Maranda, left to perish there. It was truly miraculous that she survived… it must have been the work of angels watching over her.”
Authorities revealed that as Ford attacked Greg, Kimberly fought desperately to save her daughter, explaining the presence of her blood on the child’s clothing. Court records showed defensive wounds on the backs of Kim’s arms, indicating a fierce struggle.
“The terror Kimberly must have experienced trying to secure Miranda in that car seat and get away in that truck… she had never driven a stick shift before in her life,” Ankney said. “She was just trying to escape and fight him off.”
‘Dating Game Killer’ Held ‘Trophies’ That Led to His Downfall: Detective
During the investigation, law enforcement discovered Ford had been spotted with the victims near the crime scene before the murders, and was later seen that evening “disoriented with blood on his face, hands, and clothes,” according to court documents. Ford was also observed the day after the killings with scratches on his body.
“I spent some time with him in a pickup truck going through the property, having him recount their activities that day,” shared James Kenville, a former responding deputy now a major with the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, to WFTX about Ford. “He seemed composed, convincing in conversation, but the physical evidence told a different story.”
Greg Malnory’s DNA was found on a knife in Ford’s bedroom, Kimberly’s DNA in Ford’s truck, and Ford’s DNA on Kimberly’s body and clothing, as per court records.
News Anchor’s Vanishing Act Rooted in ‘Jealousy’: Private Investigator
Join The Fox True Crime Team On X
Ankney described her son as a “fun-loving kid” with many friends, who enjoyed fishing, hunting, and driving his blue pickup truck through the mud. Greg cherished his job at the South Florida Sod Farm. “He went to work every day and said to me, ‘Mom… it’s like heaven.’ When he passed there, I thought, ‘Oh my God… it was where he belonged,'” she told Fox News Digital.
Kimberly, her daughter-in-law, was described as “bubbly, funny,” and devoted to her role as a first-time mother. “She took it very seriously. She loved Maranda.”
GET REAL-TIME UPDATES FROM THE True Crime Hub
Years later, Ankney found solace in Parents of Murdered Children, alongside her pastor and faith in Jesus. Since 1999, she has devoted her time to supporting other parents in grief.
“If I can assist just one person, then I’ve fulfilled my purpose,” Ankney shared. “It’s a unique kind of support group.”
Survivor of Serial Killer
“The pain will continue to linger, but he’s finished. I don’t have any compassion for him… it’s completely up to God.”
