On Tuesday night, Florida executed 72-year-old Samuel “Sammy” Lee Smithers for the 1996 murders of Christie Cowan and Denise Roach. He was the oldest person executed in Florida’s modern era. In our written statement and words shared at vigils around the state, we shared about the futility of executing an elderly man who no longer posed any threat to society, as well as about the depravity of once again violating the wishes of surviving family members in the name of “justice.”
Leading up to the execution, Hillsborough State Attorney Suzy Lopez claimed she was relieved justice was finally being carried out for the victims. But that’s not what the victims wanted 30 years ago, and not what they wanted Tuesday night. And just 90 minutes before Sammy was put to death, Governor DeSantis broke his silence — not to speak with compassion, reflection, or even the gravity that such a moment demands, but to post a flippant tweet on his personal account calling Sammy “literally an axe murderer.” When our leaders treat human life as a political talking point, they show us that this machinery of death is not about justice or healing. It’s about spectacle.
Christie Cowan’s father wrote in 1999: “If Mr. Smithers is sentenced to death, I will spend many more years without any resolution to this tragedy. And if he is actually executed, it will be for me the worst and most brutal possible kind of closure — something that will make me sick and ashamed for the rest of my life whenever I think of my beloved daughter, Christie.”
26 years later, at the age of 82, he shared with us that he feels those words are “truer than ever.” Shame on all of us for burdening him with more trauma and pain.
These executions are all brutal, and the moral injury is piling up. It is important to recognize that we have executed fourteen human beings in just over 8 months. Every single one of those lives mattered and not a single one was or would ever again be a threat to anyone. Sammy’s execution is particularly heartbreaking, but the fight is not over.
Governor Signs Back to Back Warrants for Unrepresented Men
In a disturbing trend, the Governor has set the executions of two men who have been unrepresented in state court. This is a blatant constitutional violation, and is forcing new counsel to try to absorb decades of information in under 30 days.
In less than two weeks, on October 28 at 6 pm, veteran Norman Mearle Grim Jr. is scheduled to be executed for the 1998 murder of Cynthia Cunningham. Please take a moment to sign his petition and send a message to Governor DeSantis.
Norman has chosen not to pursue any final appeals to stop his execution. While we respect this difficult decision, it feels particularly cruel for him to arrive at this choice without the benefit of state court counsel sitting down with him to even attempt to develop the rapport and trust to help him navigate this complex and grueling process.
Bryan Jennings, a Marine Corps veteran who is facing execution just two days after Veteran’s Day on November 13 at 6 pm, has also been without state court counsel for 3 years. After Governor DeSantis signed his death warrant, the State desperately tried to appoint CCRC Middle Region. Recognizing the ethical impossibility in taking on a brand new representation of a man facing execution in less than 30 days, lawyers at CCRC filed motions objecting to the appointment and to strike the warrant. We are waiting for the trial court to rule. Even if the trial court turns a blind eye to this injustice, Bryan and his lawyers will continue to fight. Sign his petition now.
As always, we will keep you updated. Our leaders may keep spreading lies about the purpose of this killing spree. But we know the truth. And with your help, we will continue to tell it.
Onward,
FADP Team