A man from Florida, Richard Knight, who was convicted of murdering his cousin’s girlfriend and her young daughter, is slated for execution next month. This follows a death warrant signed by Governor Ron DeSantis.
The execution is set for May 21 at the Florida State Penitentiary in Starke, as part of a series of death warrants authorized recently by the governor.
On the night of the murders, prosecutors claim that Knight and Stevens had an argument. Authorities characterized the crime as “heinous, cruel and brutal.” While they were sleeping, Knight reportedly entered their bedroom with a knife and attacked Stevens.
He stabbed her 21 times, mostly in the neck, with additional wounds to her jaw, back, and chest. Court documents also indicated that Stevens had signs of struggle, including being strangled.
Afterwards, Knight turned on the young girl, inflicting multiple stab wounds to her neck and chest. The details of the attack were outlined by prosecutors during the trial.
Attempts by Knight’s legal team to appeal the conviction have not been successful. They’ve made several challenges, all of which were rejected by the courts.
Governor DeSantis has notably increased the number of death warrants signed since last year.
In 2025, Florida executed a record 19 people, far surpassing previous annual counts. Before last year, the highest number of executions in a single year was eight, recorded in both 1984 and 2014.
Last year, Florida outpaced all other states in executions, with Alabama, Texas, and South Carolina each carrying out five. In total, 47 executions are planned across the U.S. in 2025.
This year, five individuals have already been executed in Florida. James Hitchcock, 70, is scheduled for execution on April 30 for the rape and murder of his 13-year-old step-niece, while Chadwick Willacy, 58, was recently executed for killing his elderly neighbor by setting him on fire.
