Florida Nears Record Ninth Execution With Edward Zakrzewski Lethal Injection

Edward Zakrzewski II, a retired Air Force sergeant convicted of the brutal 1994 machete murders of his wife Sylvia and their two young children in Florida, is scheduled for execution by lethal injection on July 31, 2025. This execution marks Florida's ninth of the year, setting a new state record and surpassing Texas for the first time since 1984. Zakrzewski's case has drawn controversy due to the jury's split recommendations for the death penalty, with two 7-5 votes and one 6-6 deadlock, which under current Florida law would not suffice for capital punishment; however, the trial judge overrode the deadlock to impose death sentences. His attorneys argued that executing him under these circumstances is unconstitutional, but the Florida Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court rejected his appeals and motions for a stay. Governor Ron DeSantis has emphasized providing closure to victims' families and prioritized executions, stating that some crimes warrant the death penalty. The details of the crime remain harrowing: Zakrzewski used a crowbar, rope, and machete in the killings after his wife filed for divorce, and he later fled before surrendering to authorities.