Florida schedules execution of 77-year-old man convicted of 1995 murder
Florida is scheduled to execute Curtis Wilkie Beasley, 77, for the 1995 murder of Carolyn Monfort. The state’s Supreme Court rejected arguments that his age and cognitive decline made execution unconstitutional, while a final appeal remained pending before the US Supreme Court.
Florida is scheduled to execute Curtis Wilkie Beasley, a 77-year-old man convicted of killing Carolyn Monfort in 1995. Beasley was convicted of first-degree murder, robbery and grand theft auto after Monfort was beaten to death with a hammer at her home near Orlando. He was sentenced to death in 1998 and is due to receive a three-drug lethal injection at a state prison.
Court records said Monfort’s daughter found her body after being unable to contact her for two days. Investigators found multiple blunt-force injuries to her head and a bloody hammer nearby. Authorities later traced Beasley to Alabama, where he was arrested while working under a false name.
The Florida Supreme Court rejected an argument that executing Beasley, who has cognitive decline, would constitute cruel and unusual punishment. A final appeal remained pending before the US Supreme Court. If carried out, the execution would be Florida’s 16th this year and the nation’s 29th.
Florida has executed six other prisoners over the age of 70 this year, according to the supplied material. Two further Florida executions were scheduled for October. Governor Ron DeSantis temporarily paused one involving William Lee Thompson after a doctor raised concerns that he might have dementia.
Another, involving William Reaves, was set for October 20.
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