Florida Set to Execute Thomas Gudinas: Controversy Over Death Penalty Process

Florida State Prison, Starke, Florida, USA - On June 24, 2025, Thomas Lee Gudinas, age 51, finds himself on the brink of execution by lethal injection at Florida State Prison near Starke. Convicted of the heinous crime of raping and killing Michelle McGrath in May 1994, his case has become a focal point of legal and ethical debate surrounding the death penalty in Florida. Florida has now executed more individuals than any other state in 2023, with Gudinas marking the seventh execution of the year, and an eighth execution already scheduled for next month. This puts Florida ahead of Texas and South Carolina, which are tied for second place with four executions each this year. The United States has so far seen 23 executions in 2023, and experts project that this might be the most executions in a single year since 2015.

Michelle McGrath was tragically last seen alive at Barbarella’s bar on the early hours of May 24, 1994. Her body was discovered later, showing clear signs of trauma and sexual assault. Gudinas had been present at the bar the previous night, yet he left with friends who maintained he remained behind while they departed. Witness testimony from a school employee, along with another woman who reported an earlier threat, helped tie Gudinas to the scene. His conviction and subsequent sentence to death came in 1995.

Legal Challenges Ahead of Execution

In the lead-up to his execution, Gudinas‘ legal team has been attempting to halt the process through appeals to both the Florida Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court. Attorney Ali Shakoor has filed a petition criticizing Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for what they describe as „unbridled discretion“ in signing death warrants. This petition calls for transparency regarding the decision-making process that led to Gudinas’ death warrant being signed on May 23, just a month prior to the scheduled execution.

The legal arguments put forth emphasize a lack of criteria and guidelines governing the governor’s decisions, which Shakoor insists leads to an arbitrary execution process. The Florida Attorney General has countered these claims, contending that the processes in place are constitutional and that the governor’s discretion in these matters is well within legal bounds. Gudinas’ appeals hinge largely on his mental health, with his lawyers arguing that his lifelong mental illnesses should exempt him from execution. However, the Florida Supreme Court has maintained that protections for intellectually disabled individuals do not extend to those with other mental health conditions.

The Bigger Picture on Capital Punishment in Florida

Florida has a long and complicated history when it comes to capital punishment, originally moving executions under state control in 1923 and shifting from hanging to electrocution shortly thereafter. In recent years, Florida’s execution methodology has shifted primarily towards lethal injection, especially following controversies surrounding the electric chair in the 1990s. A brief glance at the timeline of the state’s capital punishment reveals milestones and changes aimed at refining and regulating its application, including the elimination of non-unanimous jury recommendations in 2017 and parameters set for determining intellectual disabilities in death penalty cases.

The current climate is especially critical, as if Gudinas is executed alongside Michael Bernard Bell—whose execution is scheduled for July 15, 2023—both would contribute to equaling the highest number of executions in a single year since Florida reinstated the death penalty in 1976, which stood at eight cases in 1984 and 2014.

Concluding Thoughts

As Florida continues to grapple with the complexities surrounding capital punishment, Gudinas’ impending execution serves as a stark reminder of the gravity of such irrevocable decisions. The state’s history with the death penalty, coupled with ongoing legal debates and evolving criteria, amplifies the cacophony of opinions surrounding justice, morality, and the effectiveness of the legal system. The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on Gudinas’ case could echo well beyond the confines of Florida’s prison walls, leaving a lasting impact on the state’s approach to capital punishment.

With his execution scheduled for today, all eyes will be watching what unfolds next in this highly scrutinized and emotionally charged case.