A Florida man who fatally stabbed a married couple during a robbery is scheduled to be executed next month, which could extend the state’s record number of executions in a year. Victor Tony Jones, 64, is set to be executed on September 30 at Florida State Prison near Starke under a death warrant signed by Governor Ron DeSantis, marking the state’s 13th execution of 2025. This surpasses Florida’s previous record of eight executions in 2014.
Florida has executed more people this year than any other state, with Texas and South Carolina tied for second place at four each. Globally, 30 executions have taken place in the U.S. this year, surpassing the 25 executions carried out in 2024. The last time the country recorded more than 25 executions in a year was 2014, when 35 people were put to death. Jones, who was convicted in 1993 on two counts of first-degree murder and armed robbery, was a new employee at a Miami-Dade business owned by Matilda and Jacob Nestor in December 1990.
During the robbery, Jones stabbed Matilda Nestor in the neck and Jacob Nestor in the chest. Before his death, Mr. Nestor managed to reach an office, pull a .22-caliber pistol from a holster, and fire five shots, hitting Jones once in the forehead. Jones was found wounded with the Nestors’ money and personal belongings in his pockets. The Florida Supreme Court will hear an appeal as Jones’ legal team seeks to block his execution, with further appeals expected to be filed with the U.S. Supreme Court.
Although the execution is expected to proceed, the case has sparked broader discussions about the death penalty in the U.S. and its use in cases involving violent crimes. Some legal experts argue that the death penalty is a necessary deterrent for heinous crimes, while others question its fairness and the likelihood of wrongful convictions. The state’s continued use of the death penalty has also drawn attention from advocates and critics, with some suggesting it reflects the state’s conservative policies on crime and punishment.