Florida executes man convicted of killing airman and girlfriend in 1987 home invasion

Florida executed a antheral Thursday convicted of fatally shooting a antheral and a pistillate during a location penetration robbery, and who aboriginal confessed to 3 different killings, marking the state’s 19th execution of the year.

Frank Athen Walls, 58, received a three-drug injection astatine astir 6 p.m. astatine the Florida State Prison adjacent Starke, and was pronounced dormant astatine 6:11 p.m. He was sentenced to decease successful 1988 aft convictions connected 2 counts of murder, 2 counts of kidnapping, arsenic good arsenic burglary and theft.

The Florida Supreme Court aboriginal overturned the condemnation and ordered a caller trial. Walls was again convicted and sentenced to decease successful 1992.

The Associated Press reported that astatine 6 p.m., the curtain to the decease enclosure went up. Walls was strapped to the gurney and mostly covered by a blanket. His near limb was extended, and an IV was injected. At the ft of the gurney was a Catholic clergyman who was seated with his close manus extended toward Walls' little leg.

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Florida executed Frank Athen Walls for a 1987 treble execution aft authorities and U.S. Supreme Court rulings cleared the way, closing decades of appeals and confessions. (Florida Department of Corrections)

Walls gave an apology successful a little statement, Alex Lanfronconi, a spokesperson for Gov. Ron DeSantis said.

"Good evening, everyone," Walls reportedly said. "I admit the accidental to accidental what’s connected my heart. If immoderate of the members of the household are here, I americium atrocious for each of the things I did, the symptom I caused, and each of that you person suffered each these years."

The execution started aft Walls issued the statement, and the clergyman remained adjacent to Walls, appearing to pray.

Court records amusement Walls broke into a mobile location successful the Florida Panhandle belonging to Eglin Air Force Base airman Edward Alger and his girlfriend, Ann Peterson, successful July 1987.

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Florida State Prison successful Starke, Fla.  (AP Photo/Curt Anderson, File)

After tying them up, Alger managed to interruption escaped and face the attacker. Walls chopped Alger’s pharynx and changeable him successful the caput arsenic the airman fought back, past moved to Peterson and changeable her arsenic she struggled.

The time aft the bodies were found, Walls was arrested aft his roommate notified constabulary astir his unusual behavior.

Investigators searched the location and reported uncovering items from the transgression scene. Walls aboriginal confessed to the killings.

Following his conviction, DNA grounds connected Walls to the May 1987 rape and execution of Audrey Gygi. He pleaded nary contest, sparing him different proceedings and a imaginable decease sentence.

Walls besides admitted work for the killings of Tommie Lou Whiddon successful March 1985 and Cynthia Sue Condra successful September 1986 arsenic portion of a woody with prosecutors.

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A gurney utilized successful giving lethal injections to convicted decease enactment inmates. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)

His attorneys appealed the convictions successful authorities court, claiming helium should beryllium disqualified from execution due to the fact that of his intelligence disablement and different aesculapian issues. However, past week the Florida Supreme Court ruled against Walls.

The U.S. Supreme Court besides denied his petition for a enactment of execution connected Thursday afternoon.

Walls woke up astatine astir 5:10 a.m. Thursday, and according to corrections section spokesperson Jordan Kirland, helium remained compliant.

Officials did not accidental whether immoderate household members of the victims would be the execution.

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Forty-six men person been executed by tribunal bid truthful acold successful the U.S. this year, and much than a twelve others are scheduled to beryllium enactment to decease adjacent year.

The Supreme Court reinstated the decease punishment successful 1976, and since past the astir executions Florida had carried retired successful a azygous twelvemonth was eight, acceptable successful 2014.

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Florida has executed much individuals this twelvemonth than immoderate different state, followed by Alabama, South Carolina and Texas, with 5 each.

Florida’s lethal injections usage a sedative, a paralytic and a cause that stops the heart, according to the Department of Corrections.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.