A Florida man, David Pittman, was executed by lethal injection for his role in the 1990 triple murder of his estranged wife’s family, extending the state’s record for executions in 2025 to 12. The execution followed a legal battle over his intellectual disability claims, which were rejected by Florida’s highest court. This marks the first time Florida has executed more people in a single year than any other U.S. state.
Pittman, who had been on death row since 1991, was convicted of murdering his wife’s parents and sister during a heated divorce dispute. His final appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court was rejected, clearing the way for his execution. Lawyers for the death penalty opposed the claim that his intellectual disability should exempt him from execution, arguing the issue was raised too late.
Florida’s record-breaking execution rate has drawn criticism from activists, who argue that killing individuals with severe mental impairments violates constitutional protections. This year’s executions have raised concerns about the state’s use of the death penalty and its impact on families and communities. With 13 executions scheduled for the remainder of 2025, Florida continues to set a grim pace that has no precedent in U.S. history.