Florida
Florida execution to be nation’s 2nd today, 4th this week. What to know about the case.
Edward Thomas James is scheduled to die by lethal injection on Thursday for the brutal rapes and murders of a woman and her granddaughter. It’ll follow a morning execution in Oklahoma.
Firing squad executes Brad Keith Sigmon in South Carolina
A firing squad in South Carolina executed Brad Keith Sigmon for the beating deaths of his ex-girlfriend’s parents in 2001.
A Florida death row inmate is set to become the fourth man executed in the U.S. this week and the 10th so far this year.
Edward Thomas James, 63, is scheduled to die by lethal injection on Thursday for the brutal 1993 murders of 58-year-old Elizabeth “Betty” Dick and her 8-year-old granddaughter, Toni Neuner, who was raped.
James’ execution is expected to come about seven hours after the scheduled execution of Wendell Arden Grissom in Oklahoma for a home-invasion murder. It also comes two days after Louisiana executed Jessie Hoffman by nitrogen gas on Tuesday and a day after Arizona put Aaron Gunches to death by lethal injection on Wednesday.
If his execution moves forward, James will be the second inmate to be executed in Florida this year and the 10th in the U.S.
“This defendant deserves no more mercy than that he showed his two victims,” trial prosecutor Tom Hastings told jurors in 1995, according to an archived Associated Press story.
Although James has previously said he deserves to be executed, his attorneys have recently been fighting to save his life.
Here’s what you need to know about James’ execution, including why his attorneys say he deserves to be spared.
What did Edward Thomas James do?
On the night of Sept. 20, 1993, Betty Dick was at home in the metro Orlando city of Casselberry with four of her grandchildren, who were between the ages of 2 and 10, when James arrived. He had been renting a room in Dick’s home for about six months and had known the family for years, according to archived news stories.
Drunk and high on crack and possibly LSD, James apparently snapped, grabbing a sleeping 8-year-old Toni Neuner, strangling and brutally raping her before he threw her lifeless body behind his bed. He told detectives that he remembered thinking, “Eddie, this ain’t no fun … I’ll get me a grown woman.”
He then went to Dick’s bedroom, where he admitted to bludgeoning her, attempting to rape her and then stabbing her 23 times before fleeing the state with her purse, jewelry and car − setting off a frantic manhunt.
James confessed to the crimes after he was recognized on the “America’s Most Wanted” television show and captured in California following a 17-day manhunt. He has always acknowledged his guilt and has even said he deserves the death penalty.
“I don’t want to die but I do believe it’s the proper penalty for what I committed,” he said in court in 2003, according to an archived story in the Orlando Sentinel newspaper. “From now until the time they execute me, I’m just going to exist, come as close to peace with what I did … I feel in my heart that I’m doing the right thing.”
Who were Betty Dick and Toni Neuner?
Betty Dick’s children told the Orlando Sentinel that their mother took James in out of the goodness of her heart and that no one in the family would have ever suspected him capable of murder.
That was just who Dick was: a loving grandmother always looking out for others, they said, adding that it was a struggle for her other grandchildren to understand what happened to her and Toni, described by her aunt as an outgoing girl who was inseparable from her older sister Wendi, who was in the home the night of the murders and tried to intervene before James tied her up.
“She’s got a lot of anger inside of her,” her aunt, Brenda Teed, told the newspaper. “It’s unbelievable what she watched happen. She thinks if she could have gotten up sooner, she could’ve saved them.”
She said that the family told Dick’s other grandchildren that “Grandma and Toni are in heaven, but they don’t understand why.”
“We tell them they can go outside and wave at the stars and they’ll be waving at Grandma,” she told the Sentinel.
As for James, she told the newspaper that they just wanted to understand why he did what he did.
“I’m angry as hell. I’m having a hard time believing in God,” Teed said. “We have to live with the images the rest of our lives of what he did to them.”
When and where will James be executed?
James is set to be executed just after 6 p.m. ET at the Florida State Prison in Raiford, about 40 miles west of Jacksonville.
What are James’ attorneys arguing?
James’ attorneys have been arguing that he isn’t fit for execution because he has experienced significant cognitive decline in recent years, to the point that he can’t remember simple words and loses track of conversations.
“He does not remember the homicides or his behavior leading up to them. However, he desired to be punished and even executed throughout the years,” psychologist Yenys Castillo wrote after evaluating James. “It is unclear whether Mr. James truly appreciated the seriousness and finality of being sentenced to die during his initial penalty phase and postconviction proceedings, and these competency concerns persist into the present day.”
In a recent court filing, his attorneys said that James pleaded guilty to the murders “despite a glaring lack of memory of the crimes,” adding that he suffers from “a nearly lifelong history of substance abuse, clear signs of mental illness, and memory impairment including indicators of early-onset dementia.”
His condition makes executing him cruel and unusual punishment, which is a violation of his constitutional rights, his attorneys have argued.
So far, all courts have rejected those arguments and little is standing in the way of James’ execution.
Florida
1 dead, 3 injured after lightning strikes family off Florida beach
Surveillance video shows family narrowly avoid lightning strike
A father and his children had a near miss during a thunderstorm in Massachusetts.
A man died and three of his family members were injured after a lightning strike hit people in the water off Fort Myers Beach in Florida on July 3, authorities said.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded around 2:20 p.m. Friday, July 3, to the 6500 block of Estero Boulevard after reports that a man had been struck by lightning while swimming in the Gulf. When first responders arrived, bystanders were already performing CPR.
Despite immediate life-saving efforts from witnesses and emergency crews, the man was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials said the strike happened during active storm conditions moving through the area.
Authorities identified the victim as 51-year-old Viktar Kiryk.
Deputies said the three family members who were with Kiryk were transported to a local hospital for evaluation. Officials said they were in stable condition following the incident. Emergency crews responded across multiple locations along Estero Boulevard as calls came in. USA TODAY reached out to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office for additional comment.
Lightning risks in Florida waters
Lightning is a frequent hazard in Florida, especially during summer storm season. The National Weather Service says about 20 people are killed by lightning in the United States each year, with hundreds more injured.
Florida consistently ranks among the most lightning-prone states in the country. Lee County and nearby areas have been identified as frequent hotspots in recent annual lightning activity reports.
Safety officials warn that lightning can strike up to 10 miles from a storm and that anyone outdoors should seek shelter immediately if thunder is heard. They recommend waiting at least 30 minutes after the last sounds of thunder before returning outside.
Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@usatodayco.com, or on X @athompsonUSAT
Florida
Motorcyclist killed in crash in Fort Lauderdale
A motorcyclist was killed early Saturday in a crash involving a vehicle in Fort Lauderdale, police said.
Officers responded at approximately 2:45 a.m. to the 3000 block of West Broward Boulevard following a report of a vehicle and motorcycle crash.
When officers arrived, the motorcycle rider was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Fort Lauderdale Police Department.
The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene.
The department’s Traffic Homicide Unit is investigating the cause of the crash.
Florida
Publix? Walmart? What Florida stores are open and closed on July 4
Happy Fourth of July! Although the post office and government offices will be closed today, many grocery stores are open.
Don’t forget the hot dog buns or festive treats during your Independence Day cookout this afternoon.
Here’s what you need to know about grocery stores and whether or not they’ll be open today.
Buy Fourth of July essentials on Amazon Prime
Is Publix open on July 4th?
Publix is open on the Fourth of July.
Publix closes its doors for only three holidays each year: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. Most Publix stores open at 7 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. Some Publix stores regularly close at 9 p.m., but not many. Check hours at your local store.
Publix Liquors stores are also open at 9 a.m. or 10 a.m., depending on the location. However, Publix pharmacies will be closed, so fill any prescriptions you need before the holiday.
Is Aldi open on July 4th?
Aldi stores will be open with limited hours on July 4.
Some Aldi store locations in Florida open at 8:30 a.m., while others open at 9 a.m. Most Aldi locations close at either 8 p.m. or 8:30 p.m.
Holiday hours can vary from location to location, so check your local Aldi’s holiday hours before you go. You can find the store locator here to double-check the opening hours of your nearest Aldi.
Is Whole Foods open on July 4th?
Most Whole Foods locations will close early, at 6 p.m. on the Fourth of July.
Under regular hours, most Florida Whole Foods locations open at 8 a.m. and close at 11 p.m. A few open at 7:30 a.m.
Some Whole Foods locations close at 9 p.m. while others close at 10 p.m.
Is Sprouts closed on July 4th?
Sprouts will be open during regular hours on July 4.
Store hours in Florida are typically from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.
Is Winn-Dixie open on July 4th?
Winn-Dixie locations in Florida will be open on July 4th, with regular hours.
Typically, Winn-Dixie stores in Florida open at 7 a.m. and close at 11 p.m. every day. Winn-Dixie’s wine and spirits services don’t open until 9 a.m.
Is Trader Joe’s open on July 4th?
Trader Joe’s locations will only be open until 5 p.m. on the Fourth of July.
Most Trader Joe’s locations in Florida open at 8 a.m. A few open at 9 a.m. Trader Joe’s stores usually close at 9 p.m. during their regular hours.
Is Target open on July 4th?
Target will be open throughout the Fourth of July weekend; however, hours of operation may vary by location, so please check your local store’s hours before visiting.
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Most Target stores in Florida open at 8 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. Some Target locations open at 7 a.m.
Is Walmart open on July 4th?
Walmart stores close only on Thanksgiving and Christmas, so they will also be open for regular hours on the Fourth of July.
Buy Fourth of July essentials on Walmart
Most Walmart stores in Florida open an hour before Publix or Winn-Dixie, at 6 a.m. They close at 11 p.m. The same hours apply to most Walmart Neighborhood Market locations.
Is Costco closed on July 4th?
Costco will be closed on July 4.
Is Sam’s Club open on July 4th?
Most Sam’s Club locations will be open on July 4 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Check your local store’s hours in advance.
Is BJ’s Wholesale Club open on July 4th?
BJ’s Wholesale Club will be open regular hours on July 4 from 10 a.m. through 7 p.m. Check your local store’s hours in advance.
Is the Fourth of July a federal holiday?
Yes, the Fourth of July is a federal holiday. See all 11 federal holidays:
- New Year’s Day – Jan. 1
- Martin Luther King’s Birthday – 3rd Monday in January
- Washington’s Birthday – 3rd Monday in February
- Memorial Day – last Monday in May
- Juneteenth National Independence Day – June 19
- Independence Day – July 4
- Labor Day – 1st Monday in September
- Indigenous Peoples’ Day – 2nd Monday in October
- Veterans’ Day – Nov. 11
- Thanksgiving Day – 4th Thursday in November
- Christmas Day – Dec. 25
Samantha Neely is a trending reporter for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida, covering pop culture, theme parks, breaking news and more. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters.
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