The state of Florida is set to continue its record-breaking pace of executions, with convicted killer Norman Mearle Grim Jr. scheduled to die on October 28.
Grim, 65, decided this week not to fight his execution in court, waiving all legal appeals and clearing the path for Florida to reach 15 executions this year.
This number of executions solidifies Gov. Ron DeSantis’ record pace, which has already seen more executions in a single year than any other Florida governor since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. The previous record was eight executions in one year.
Inmate Waives Appeals for October Execution
Norman Grim’s decision is highly uncommon. At an October 1 hearing in Santa Rosa County, Grim waived pursuing any attempts to prevent the execution.
“Defendant indicated that his wish was to forego all warrant (legal) proceedings and allow execution to proceed,” Circuit Judge Clifton Drake wrote in a subsequent order. Grim, when advised of his right to appeal, simply stated, “No appeals.”
Ordinarily, a death warrant—which DeSantis signed on September 26—triggers an intense flurry of legal maneuvers, from circuit court to the Florida Supreme Court, often ending at the U.S. Supreme Court. All 14 inmates executed in Florida earlier this year, including Samuel Lee Smithers, who was executed hours after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected his appeal this week, pursued such appeals.
Grim’s waiver stopped that process immediately. The Florida Supreme Court had established a schedule for the expected proceedings, but the defense did not file an appeal. Judge Drake conducted an extensive review of Grim’s mental state and comprehension before accepting the waiver, noting that Grim was “alert, understood the English language, and was not under the influence of anything that would impair his judgment.”
Grim was sentenced to death for the 1998 sexual assault and murder of Cynthia Chapman, an attorney and his neighbor in Northwest Florida. Chapman’s body was later found in Pensacola Bay.
Bryan Jennings Execution Scheduled Amidst Record
Grim’s execution is slated just two weeks before Bryan Fredrick Jennings, 66, is scheduled to die by lethal injection on November 13. Jennings was convicted of the brutal 1979 rape and murder of 6-year-old Rebecca Kunash in Brevard County.
Jennings’ execution would be the 16th person set for death this year, with Florida currently leading the nation in executions for 2025. Attorneys for Jennings are expected to file appeals to the Florida and U.S. Supreme Courts to prevent the execution.
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