Florida Executes Thomas Lee Gudinas for 1994 Murder, Amidst Rise in Capital Punishment

Thomas Lee Gudinas, convicted of the rape and murder of Michelle McGrath in May 1994, was executed on Tuesday evening at Florida State Prison. The execution, carried out by lethal injection, marked the seventh in Florida this year, reflecting an increase in capital punishment. The 51-year-old was pronounced dead at 6:13 pm, according to a spokesman for Governor Ron DeSantis.

As the execution chamber curtain opened at 6:00 pm, Gudinas was already secured to a gurney. The warden, after ending a call with the governor's office, asked Gudinas if he had any final words. Though his statement was inaudible to those present, the spokesman revealed that Gudinas expressed remorse and mentioned Jesus. Following this, the lethal drugs were administered, causing Gudinas' eyes to roll back and his chest to convulse slightly. After several minutes, his face lost color, and he became still. The warden then announced the sentence had been carried out, the curtain was closed, and witnesses were escorted from the viewing area.

Gudinas' execution is the seventh in Florida this year, with another scheduled for next month. The state executed six people in 2023, and only one the year before that. Nationally, 24 men have been put to death this year, and with more executions planned, 2025 is projected to have the most executions since 2015. Florida leads the nation in executions this year, ahead of states like Texas and South Carolina. Other states, including Alabama, Oklahoma, Arizona, Indiana, Louisiana, and Tennessee, have also conducted executions, with Mississippi preparing for its first since 2022. A Department of Corrections spokesperson stated that staff were managing the pace of executions professionally.

The case dates back to May 24, 1994, when McGrath was last seen at a bar before her body was found with signs of severe trauma and sexual assault. Gudinas, who was at the same establishment, was seen leaving alone by witnesses. A school worker identified Gudinas fleeing the scene, and another woman recognized him as her assailant from the previous night. Gudinas received a death sentence in 1995.

Gudinas' legal attempts to avoid execution were unsuccessful. His defense team argued that his "lifelong mental illnesses" should prevent his execution, but the Florida Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, stating that legal protections for intellectually disabled individuals do not extend to those with other mental conditions or brain injuries. A separate federal plea challenged the governor's authority to issue death warrants, alleging it violated inmates' constitutional rights. However, the U.S. Supreme Court declined Gudinas' bid for clemency on Tuesday. On the day of his execution, Gudinas had a solitary visitor, his mother, and did not seek counsel from any religious advisor.