Thomas “Tommy” Gudinas is scheduled to be executed by the State of Florida on June 24, 2025, for a crime he committed as a 20-year-old in 1994. We grieve deeply for the life of Michelle McGrath and hold space for her loved ones. Nothing about our advocacy diminishes their loss or pain.
But executing Tommy will not bring healing or safety.
Tommy’s life was marked by unimaginable trauma. Born to a teenage mother and an abusive father, he suffered medical complications at birth and was subjected to brutal and humiliating punishments as a child. He was cycled through 105 different placements by Massachusetts child welfare authorities—never receiving the long-term care that professionals repeatedly recommended. He only completed the 4th grade.
Tommy’s life was shattered long before he ever caused harm. And while nothing can undo that harm, we firmly believe that life without the possibility of parole is a severe and just punishment that ensures he will never hurt another person again.
The death penalty is not justice—it is a perpetuation of the same cycle of violence that shaped Tommy’s life. We stand united in calling on Governor DeSantis to stay the execution and grant clemency.