Florida Executes Edward Thomas James for 1993 Murders of Child and Grandmother

Edward Thomas James was put to death by lethal injection after courts rejected his final appeals citing cognitive decline and mental illness.

Edward Thomas James, 63, was executed on March 20, 2025, for the 1993 rape and murder of 8-year-old Toni Neuner and the stabbing death of her grandmother, Betty Dick.
James pleaded guilty to the crimes and was sentenced to death in 1995 following an 11-1 jury recommendation.
His attorneys argued that his cognitive decline, mental illness, and substance abuse history made his execution unconstitutional, but these appeals were denied by state and federal courts.
James' execution was the second in Florida this year and the fourth in the United States this week, highlighting the ongoing use of capital punishment in the country.
The case underscores broader debates about the death penalty, including its fairness and the treatment of mental health issues within the criminal justice system.