Gov. DeSantis has signed a death warrant for Curtis Beasley, setting his execution for September 29 at 6 p.m. Curtis was sentenced to death for the 1995 murder of Carolyn Monfort. The death penalty exists because people don’t know that it’s happening, so most important thing you can do right now is force the public to look. To get started, sign and share Curtis’ petition, and repost FADP’s posts on Facebook and Instagram. More to come.
Friends,
Last Tuesday, We the People of the State of Florida executed William Silvia for the 2006 murder of his estranged wife, Patricia Silvia.
That evening, the rain and lightning outside Florida State Prison became so severe that those of us gathered for the vigil had to shelter inside a bus brought by Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. I have attended nearly 40 vigils at FSP, some in terrible storms, but never one like this. Still, we continued our songs, prayers, and reflections for Will, Patricia, and all impacted as the bus shook in the wind.
Then, at 6:11 p.m., lightning drew itself across the sky, followed by a tremendous clap of thunder. Father Phil Egitto and I looked at our watches, then at each other. We both knew, without even saying it, that Will was now dead.
A few minutes later, the time of death was announced: 6:11 p.m.
William’s story was one of devastating violence, but also profound mental illness, trauma and despair. Please take a moment to read our full statement and remember the whole of the lives affected by this tragedy.
And now, the cycle continues. Three executions are currently scheduled in Florida, with each case deserving its own attention:
- Harold “Gene” Lucas: September 1
- Daniel “Danny” Owen Conahan, Jr.: September 10
- Curtis Wilke Beasley: September 29
If their executions proceed as scheduled, they will be the 14th, 15th, and 16th people killed by the State of Florida this year.
Please keep reading to learn more, and make plans to attend a vigil or demonstration near you. Showing up and bearing witness is one of the best ways to show our state’s leaders (including our new governor), that Floridians don’t want to see the killing spree go on any longer.
Harold “Gene” Lucas: September 1 at 6pm
On September 1, Florida plans to execute Harold “Gene” Lucas, who has spent nearly half a century on death row for the 1976 murder of Jill Piper and has now chosen to waive his remaining appeals.
Harold was first sentenced to death in 1977. Over the decades that followed, the Florida Supreme Court overturned his death sentence four separate times. Each time, the State could have chosen to send him to serve out a life sentence, like thousands of people convicted of similar crimes are doing right now. Instead, they sought death over and over again. As a result, Gene has been sentenced to death five times for the same crime.
For nearly 50 years, he has lived through death sentences, reversals, resentencings, and appeals — repeatedly told that he would be killed, only to have the legal process begin again. Now, at 74-years-old, he has decided he cannot keep fighting.
Please repost our Facebook and Instagram posts, and make plans to bear witness next week.
Daniel Conahan: September 10 at 6pm
Only nine days after Harold’s scheduled execution, Florida plans to kill Daniel “Danny” Owen Conahan, Jr. on September 10 for the 1996 murder of Richard Montgomery. Danny has never wavered in his claim of innocence, and the evidence supports that.
We want to be very clear with you: There is going to be lots of media coverage about how Danny is a serial killer who has escaped accountability for decades. The truth is that there is no physical evidence linking him to Richard Montomery’s murder, let alone other crimes. Prosecutors know that, too — that’s why he has never been charged. To make matters worse, prosecutors used a career jailhouse snitch to convict him of the Montgomery murder.
He had an active appeal requesting DNA testing in process when his warrant was signed, and he is arguing that the State wants to kill him rather than letting the truth come out.
You can learn more, sign Danny’s petition, and take a moment to share and tell a friend that Florida is planning to execute an innocent man.
We’ll be back with more soon. For now, keep telling these stories and standing up for what’s right. We’re glad you’re here with us.
Onward,
The FADP Team
P.S. — A few of our friends and partners have great virtual events this week! Check out tonight’s virtual screening of a clemency film from the Life for Jeffery Lee team in Alabama, and tomorrow’s Rethinking the Death Penalty Through a Conservative Lens from Pennsylvanians Against the Death Penalty and Conservatives Concerned.