Florida Execution 2025: Record-Breaking Year for Death Penalty in the Sunshine State

Florida is preparing for its 18th execution of 2025. Mark Allen Geralds is scheduled to die by lethal injection on Tuesday. The execution will take place at Florida State Prison near Starke.

Geralds was convicted for a 1989 home invasion murder. He has since waived his final appeals. This execution continues a record-setting pace for the state.

Details of a Decades-Old Crime

Mark Allen Geralds is 58 years old. He was sentenced to death for the killing of Tressa Pettibone. The crime occurred in Panama City in February 1989.

Pettibone’s 8-year-old son discovered her body. According to court records, Geralds had done work at the home. He later met the family at a mall and learned the husband was away.

Evidence tied Geralds directly to the scene. Jewelry he pawned had the victim’s blood on it. Plastic ties from his car matched those used to bind Pettibone.

A State on Pace for Historic Numbers

This execution sets a modern state record. Florida had never executed more than eight people in a year before 2025. The previous high was in 2014.

Governor Ron DeSantis has signed multiple death warrants. Another execution is already scheduled for next week. Frank Athen Walls is set to die on December 18th.

Nationally, 44 executions have been carried out this year. Florida leads all states in executions for 2025. The state uses a three-drug protocol for lethal injections.

Florida’s unprecedented execution rate in 2025 marks a significant shift in capital punishment. The scheduled execution of Mark Allen Geralds underscores this historic trend.

Thought you’d like to know

Who is Mark Allen Geralds?

Mark Allen Geralds is a 58-year-old man convicted of a 1989 murder. He was a carpenter who had worked at the victim’s home. His execution is scheduled for December 2025.

How many executions has Florida carried out in 2025?

This will be the 18th execution in Florida this year. That number shatters the state’s previous annual record. Another execution is planned for next week.

What was Mark Allen Geralds convicted of doing?

He was convicted of murdering Tressa Pettibone during a home invasion. The crime occurred in Panama City. He was also convicted of armed robbery and burglary.

Has Geralds appealed his execution?

No, he recently told a judge he would not pursue further appeals. The judge approved this decision. His execution date was set afterward.

What drugs are used in Florida executions?

Florida uses a three-drug combination for lethal injection. It includes a sedative, a paralytic, and a drug that stops the heart. The state Department of Corrections oversees the process.