A man who had consistently denied the accusations of raping and murdering his neighbor 27 years ago was put to death today on death row. Norman Mearle Grim Jr, aged 65, was executed in Florida following his conviction for the sexual assault and first-degree murder of Cynthia Campbell, despite his claims of innocence during the legal proceedings. The execution was carried out through a three-drug injection, marking the state’s 15th execution this year.
When asked if he wanted to make a final statement, Grim responded with a simple “No sir.” Following this, he received the injection, which resulted in heavy breathing and slight twitching before he was pronounced dead, almost three decades after the tragic death of Ms. Campbell.
Ms. Campbell went missing in 1998 and was later discovered deceased in waters near the Pensacola Bay Bridge by a fisherman. Prosecutors presented evidence indicating that she had sustained severe blunt-force injuries to her head and face, resembling hammer blows, along with 11 stab wounds to her chest, seven of which had pierced her heart. Grim was linked to the crime through DNA evidence.
Despite Grim’s continuous denial of the charges, he was found guilty after a trial in 2000 and sentenced to death the same year. This sentence was carried out today, 27 years after the incident.
Since the reinstitution of the death penalty by the US Supreme Court in 1976, Florida has witnessed its highest number of executions in a single year, surpassing the previous record in 2014. Florida leads the nation in executions this year, followed by Texas and Alabama, each with five executions.
Following the signing of a death warrant and setting an execution date, inmates have the opportunity to appeal to the Florida Supreme Court and the US Supreme Court as a final resort. Grim did not receive any visitors or spiritual guidance on his final day, as confirmed by authorities.
Currently, 40 individuals have been executed through court orders this year in the US, with at least 18 more individuals scheduled for execution by the end of 2025 and into the following year.
Florida leads the nation in executions this year, with Texas and Alabama following closely with five each. Additional executions are planned for next month in Florida under the supervision of Republican Governor Ron DeSantis.
Two executions are scheduled for next month in Florida. Bryan Fredrick Jennings, aged 66, is set for execution on November 13, marking the state’s 16th execution. Jennings was convicted of the rape and murder of a six-year-old girl in 1979 after breaking into her central Florida residence and abducting her.
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