In a significant move, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has now reportedly signed a death warrant for Michael Bernard Bell, a man convicted of murdering two individuals in 1993 in Duval County.
This decision sets the stage for what could be the state’s eighth execution this year, a notable development in Florida’s use of the death penalty.
The execution is scheduled for July 15 at Florida State Prison, according to information posted on the state Supreme Court’s website.
If carried out, this execution will tie the record for the most executions in a single year since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976 following a U.S. Supreme Court decision.
Florida previously executed eight inmates in 1984 and again in 2014.
Bell, now 54, was sentenced to death for the December 1993 shooting deaths of Jimmy West and Tamecka Smith outside a bar in Jacksonville.
Using an AK-47 rifle, Bell shot both victims as they attempted to enter their vehicle. According to court documents, Bell’s actions were motivated by a desire for revenge; his brother had been killed earlier that year by West’s half-brother.
In addition to the death sentence, Bell is also serving three consecutive 25-year sentences for unrelated second-degree murder charges, further illustrating the severity of his criminal history.
The recent decision to move forward with his execution comes just days after the state executed Anthony Wainwright, who was convicted of kidnapping, raping, and murdering a woman in 1994.
DeSantis has also signed a death warrant for Thomas Gudinas, another inmate scheduled for execution on June 24, which could push the total number of executions in Florida this year to nine.
Gudinas was convicted in the 1994 murder of Michelle McGrath, whose body was discovered in an Orlando alley, showing signs of brutal assault.
As the state prepares for these executions, Gudinas’ attorneys have filed appeals with the Florida Supreme Court to halt his execution, but no ruling had been made as of Friday evening.
The year 2025 has been notable for Florida’s death penalty activity, with six executions already carried out, compared to only one in 2024 and six in 2023. The state did not execute anyone in 2020, 2021, or 2022.
This increase in executions raises questions about the application of the death penalty in Florida, particularly in light of the legal and ethical debates surrounding capital punishment.
As the state moves forward with these cases, the families of victims and the broader community reflect on the implications of such measures in the quest for justice.
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