In Florida, the pace of executions has reached unprecedented levels under Governor Ron DeSantis, as evidenced by the latest death warrant signed for Bryan Fredrick Jennings. Convicted of a heinous crime involving the rape and murder of a young girl, Jennings is scheduled to face lethal injection on November 13 at Florida State Prison.
Governor DeSantis has set a new precedent with the number of executions carried out during his tenure, surpassing any other Florida governor since the death penalty’s reinstatement in 1976. Jennings will be the 16th individual executed in Florida in 2025, highlighting the state’s aggressive stance on capital punishment. For more information on the pace of executions, see the original report.
The death warrant for Jennings follows closely behind the scheduled execution of Samuel Lee Smithers and the impending execution of Norman Mearle Grim Jr. on October 28. Jennings’ criminal record includes convictions for murder, kidnapping, and sexual battery dating back to 1986, with previous convictions overturned twice.
Details from court records reveal the horrific nature of Jennings’ crime. In May 1979, Jennings entered a Brevard County home through a window and abducted 6-year-old Rebecca Kunash. He then drove her to a secluded area near a Merritt Island canal, where he assaulted and ultimately murdered her by drowning. The child’s body was discovered by police in the canal.
Following his arrest on an unrelated traffic warrant, authorities were able to connect Jennings to the murder of Rebecca Kunash. Legal representatives for Jennings are anticipated to appeal to both the Florida Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court in hopes of halting the execution.
As of now, the United States has seen 35 executions in 2025, with Florida contributing significantly to this number due to the actions of Governor DeSantis. The latest execution in the state occurred on September 30, involving Victor Tony Jones, who was convicted for a 1990 double murder during a robbery in South Florida. This year marks a significant increase in Florida’s execution rate, with the previous record being eight executions in 2014.
