Florida man executed for 1993 double murder

A Florida man was executed on Thursday for the murder of an 8-year-old girl and her grandmother. Edward James, 63, was pronounced dead after receiving a lethal injection at Florida State Prison at 8:15 p.m. James pleaded guilty to killing Toni Neuner and her grandmother Betty Dick in 1993. He committed the crime after heavily drinking and using drugs. During the execution, James did not make a final statement. Officials noted that he showed signs of distress before becoming still. The brother of the young girl, Jared Pearson, expressed mixed feelings after the execution. He said the family found some peace but also acknowledged the deep loss they experienced. "It's all pure evil. That night was horrific," he stated. In addition to James’s execution, three others occurred this week in the United States, including a lethal injection in Oklahoma. The U.S. Supreme Court had denied James' last-minute appeals earlier in the day. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed James’ death warrant this year, paving the way for his execution. James had been living at Betty Dick’s home when he committed the crimes. Reports indicate that he drank heavily, consumed LSD, and attacked the victims. Afterward, he fled with stolen items and was arrested in California. James' lawyers made several unsuccessful appeals regarding his mental health and past drug use, claiming they should prevent his execution. However, the courts reaffirmed that these issues did not exempt him from capital punishment. Florida carries out executions using a three-drug cocktail. Another execution is scheduled in Florida for early April for a different murder case.