James Ford's Execution Set for February 13

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed the first death warrant of 2025 for James D. Ford, who was convicted of the 1997 murders of Greg and Kimberly Malnory in Charlotte County. Ford, 64, is set to be executed on February 13 at Florida State Prison, marking the first execution of the year in the state. The murders occurred at a remote sod farm where Ford, a co-worker of Greg Malnory, had arranged a fishing trip with the couple, resulting in their brutal deaths. The Malnorys were found with severe gunshot and blunt force injuries, and their 22-month-old daughter was left in a truck for over 18 hours. Ford's convictions include first-degree murder, sexual battery, and child neglect, and his appeals have been rejected by both state and federal courts. The Florida Supreme Court quickly set a timetable for potential legal challenges to the execution, although executive clemency was deemed inappropriate for the case.