James Ford Executed 2/13/2025
Tonight, the State of Florida executed James Ford. It was the first execution in the State in 2025. Ford was 64 years old and served over 25 years on death row before his execution.
Tonight, the State of Florida executed James Ford, carrying out his sentence of death that was imposed two decades ago.
It was the first execution in the State in 2025. Ford was 64 years old and served over 25 years on death row before his execution.
According to a press release from FADP issued just after the execution, Ford was “doing his weekly bible study with his death row neighbors” when “guards came to pull him from his cell to take him to death watch” after the Governor had signed a warrant for his execution. “With tears in his eyes as he was hauled away, he thanked one of his neighbors for teaching him so much of the Lord’s word over the years.”
Information About the Execution
DOC held a press conference at 3:30 p.m. prior to the execution.
A video of the press conference is available from ABC7 here.
At the press conference, DOC officials reported that Ford woke up this morning at 3:30 a.m. His final meal steak, mac and cheese, fried okra, sweet potato, pumpkin pie, and sweet tea. He had three visitors, all of whom were family. He did not meet with a spiritual advisor. DOC also reported that victims are in attendance at the execution.
According to a report from John Koch (embedded below), Ford did not have any last words before the execution.
However, news reports following the execution indicated that Ford did leave a final written statement that said:
Hugs Prayers Love!!! God Bless everyone!!!!"
According to news reports, the time of death was 6:19. This is several minutes later than the 2023 and 2024 executions:1
Barnes’ time of death was 6:13.
Barwick, Owen, and Zack were pronounced dead at 6:14.
Cole and Gaskin were pronounced dead at 6:15.
Florida is the fourth state to conduct an execution this year, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.
After the execution, victims gave statements. Below is a clip of a statement from Deidre Parkinson, the stepmother of Kim Malnory, one of Ford’s victims, provided by John Koch:
Below is a clip of a statement from Connie Ankey, the mother of Greg Malnor, Ford’s other victim, provided by John Koch:
News Articles About the Execution
TFDP Prior Coverage of the Ford Warrant
My thoughts are with everyone involved in the warrant- and execution-related process.
This does not include Donald Dillbeck, as his execution was before I started TFDP.
Nice use of material-my photos would add the cherry to already great work- just saying thank you for letting me do my job and not be that coon dog in the cage while the ole coon is laughing at me on the outside.