Florida Executes Gulf War Veteran Jeffrey Hutchinson for Quadruple Murder

Florida executed Gulf War veteran Jeffrey Hutchinson for the 1998 murders of his girlfriend and her three children, despite defense arguments that his military service caused brain damage and severe mental illness. Hutchinson maintained his innocence, claiming that home invaders committed the murders, but evidence presented at trial—including his own 911 call and forensic findings—pointed to his direct involvement. His legal team and advocates, including 129 fellow veterans, appealed for clemency on the basis of his mental health, but both state and federal courts, as well as Governor Ron DeSantis, declined to halt the execution. The Florida Supreme Court noted that Hutchinson’s exposure to wartime trauma was considered during his original trial and sentencing. The execution, carried out by lethal injection, marked Florida’s fourth and the nation’s 15th execution of the year. The case has reignited debate over the death penalty for veterans with service-related trauma and mental illness.