Governor DeSantis has signed the ninth death warrant of 2025 and set an execution date for Air Force Veteran Edward ‘Zak’ Zakrzewski. He is scheduled to be executed on Thursday, July 31 at 6 pm for the 1994 murders of his wife Sylvia and their two children, Edward and Anna Zakrzewski. He was serving on active duty at the time of the crime. This petition urges Governor DeSantis to halt the execution and reconsider the deeply troubling circumstances of Zak’s sentencing and we need you to sign it now.
By signing Zak’s death warrant, Gov. DeSantis is setting the stage to break the modern-day record for number of executions in one calendar year with six months still left to go in 2025.
Every execution reinforces a system rooted in retribution, not healing. It dehumanizes all of us, distracts from real solutions to violence, and perpetuates irreversible harm. We are calling on the Governor to exercise his clemency power and prevent a deeply outdated and unjust sentence from being carried out.
Information about Zak’s Military Service:
Zak enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1984 and received basic training in Texas as well as technical schooling at Chanute AFB, Illinois. His first duty station was Eglin AFB, Florida and he was assigned to the 3246th Supply Squadron from 1985-1987. He was later recommended for promotion at Eglin and received high marks for leadership and performance.
Zak served overseas at Kimhae Air Base in the Republic of Korea from November 1992 to November 1993 in the 631st Air Mobility Support Squadron. He supervised 12 personnel and managed $15 million in War Reserve Material assets. There, he was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal. The tragic murders in this case took place just 7 months after he returned from Korea.
While in Korea, Zak served in a highly sensitive and critical logistics leadership role during the most dangerous periods in recent Korean Peninsula history. His responsibilities ensured readiness amid North Korea’s nuclear posturing and withdrawal from the NPT. This crisis required constant preparedness and rapid logistical response.
Zak was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal for meritorious service while stationed at Kimhae Air Base, Republic of Korea. Multiple performance reports across the years describe him as “exceptional,” and someone who demonstrated “leadership and initiative expected from much senior NCOs.”
Zak achieved the rank of Technical Sergeant (TSgt), indicating high responsibility and leadership capacity. He had key roles such as: NCOIC, Mission Support (Kimhae, Korea); NCOIC, Center Supply Support (Eglin AFB); MICAP Controller
Zak created a Mission Capable (MICAP) reporting system from scratch, reducing mission-critical part outages by more than 50%. He took over supervisory duties when his superior was hospitalized, showing “enthusiasm, dedication and drive well above his grade.”
Zak’s military records consistently rate him as exemplary in conduct, appearance, and compliance with Air Force standards — on and off duty. He was described as a role model for others.