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Florida to execute a prisoner who killed his cellmate in hopes of getting a death sentence
NBC News • • nation
Key Points:
- James Robertson, a Florida prisoner who killed his cellmate in 2008 to be moved to death row, is set for execution Tuesday after pleading guilty and waiving all appeals.
- Governor Ron DeSantis withdrew a death warrant for another inmate, William Lee Thompson, citing no reason; Thompson remains on death row with possible future execution.
- Death penalty opponents argue Robertson’s case highlights the death penalty’s failure as a deterrent, noting his murder was motivated by a desire to be executed.
- Florida leads the nation in executions, with DeSantis overseeing 19 in 2025 and 17 scheduled so far in 2026, aiming to deliver justice to victims’ families after decades-long waits.
- Florida uses a three-drug lethal injection protocol for executions, and recent actions have intensified national attention on capital punishment practices.
