Governor Ron DeSantis has signed the second death warrant of 2026, scheduling the execution of Melvin Trotter — who was sentenced to death for the 1986 murder of Virgie Langford — for Tuesday, February 24, at 6 p.m.
This execution comes just two weeks after Florida is scheduled to execute Ronald Heath on February 10, continuing an unprecedented pace of executions. Rather than pausing after the deadliest execution year in state history, Florida has begun the new year exactly where it left off.
This is not about excusing violence. It is about whether Florida will continue treating executions as routine, despite the risk of irreversible error and the deep harm this system causes to victims’ families, corrections staff, courts, and communities.
Clemency exists for moments like this. A stay of execution is not weakness. It is responsibility.