Record 13th Florida execution this year carried out on man convicted of killing a couple

A man sentenced to death after murdering a married couple during a robbery in South Florida in 1990 was executed on Tuesday, marking the 13th execution in the state this year—setting a new record.

Victor Tony Jones, aged 64, was declared dead at 6:13 p.m. following a lethal injection administered at Florida State Prison located near Starke.

With Jones’ execution, Florida has broken its record for the most executions in a single year, with plans for an additional two executions next month.

The execution procedure commenced promptly at 6:00 p.m. when the curtain in the viewing room was raised.

When asked if he had any final words, Jones replied, “no, sir,” before the lethal chemicals were administered.

Jones’ body began to convulse for several minutes before his breathing slowed and ultimately ceased.

After several minutes, the warden called out to Jones and shook him, though there was no reaction.

As Jones lay still, his complexion faded, and a medic later entered the chamber to confirm his death minutes afterward.

Officials reported that the execution proceeded smoothly.

Irene Fisher, daughter of the victims, expressed her complex feelings about the event: “After witnessing what I saw tonight, I wish my parents could have experienced a death as peaceful, closing their eyes and simply passing away. They were violently murdered. My father fought for 20 minutes with a stab wound to the heart, while my mother succumbed instantly on the cold bathroom floor.”

In December 1990, Jones had just begun working at a Miami business owned by Matilda and Jacob Nestor when he fatally attacked them, court documents indicate.

Despite sustaining injuries, Jacob Nestor managed to retreat to an office, retrieve a .22 caliber handgun, and fired five shots, hitting Jones once in the forehead.

Authorities reported discovering Jones wounded at the crime scene with the Nestors’ cash and personal belongings in his possession.

Following his hospitalization, he faced a trial in 1993, where he was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to death.

The jury also found Jones guilty of armed robbery.

Fisher attended the execution alongside her two adult daughters and several family members, feeling a mix of emotions as she had never witnessed a death before. However, she felt relieved that justice had been served at last.

The Nestors previously managed a medical supply store in Miami’s Wynwood area before it evolved into a renowned arts and entertainment hub.

The former site of their business has been transformed into a community center.

“My parents would have loved that because they were always dedicated to assisting the community,” Fisher remarked.

The US Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976, and Florida’s previous record for yearly executions was eight in 2014.

Florida has executed more individuals than any other state this year, with Texas following closely behind with five executions.

Earlier this month, Jones had filed an appeal with the Florida Supreme Court, citing intellectual disability and claims of abuse he experienced as a teenager at a now-closed reform school.

The court dismissed his claims, noting they had previously been litigated and the abuse allegations were not raised during his trial.

The US Supreme Court denied a final appeal just hours before the execution without any additional commentary.

With Jones’ execution, 34 men have faced court-ordered executions in the US this year, with at least eight more scheduled before the end of 2025.

If no legal interventions occur, two more executions are scheduled in Florida for next month under the authority of Governor Ron DeSantis.

Samuel Lee Smithers, 72, is set to be executed on October 14 for the 1996 murders of two women found in a rural pond.

Norman Mearle Grim Jr., 65, is also scheduled for execution on October 28, having been convicted of raping and killing his neighbor, whose remains were discovered near the Pensacola Bay Bridge in 1998.

According to the Florida Department of Corrections, the execution method involves administering a sedative, a paralytic agent, and a drug that stops the heart.