STARKE, Fla. (AP) — A man convicted of fatally shooting a man and woman during home invasion robbery and later confessing to three other killings is scheduled to be executed Thursday evening.

Frank Athen Walls, 58, is set to receive a lethal injection starting at 6 p.m. at Florida State Prison near Starke. Walls was convicted of two counts of murder, two counts of kidnapping, burglary and theft and sentenced to death in 1988. The Florida Supreme Court later reversed the conviction and ordered a new trial, and Walls was again convicted and sentenced to death in 1992.

It would be Florida’s 19th death sentence carried out in 2025, further extending a state record for total executions in a single year.

According to court records, Walls broke into the Florida Panhandle mobile home of Eglin Air Force Base airman Edward Alger and his girlfriend, Ann Peterson, in July 1987. Walls tied the couple up, but Alger managed to break free and attack Walls. Walls cut Alger’s throat and them shot him in the head when the airman continued to fight. Walls then went to attack Peterson and shot her as she struggled.

Walls was arrested the day after the bodies were found when his roommate tipped off police about Walls’ odd behavior. During a search of the home, investigators reported finding items from the crime scene, and Walls later admitted to the killings.

After his conviction, DNA evidence linked Walls to the May 1987 rape and murder of a woman, Audrey Gygi. Walls pleaded no contest, avoiding another trial and possible death sentence. Walls also admitted responsibility for the killings of Tommie Lou Whiddon in March 1985 and Cynthia Sue Condra in September 1986 as part of a deal with prosecutors.

Attorneys for Walls filed appeals in state court claiming that his intellectual disability and other medical issues should disqualify him from execution, but the Florida Supreme Court ruled against Walls last week. Appeals were still pending before the U.S. Supreme Court.

A total of 46 men have died by court-ordered execution so far this year in the U.S., and more than a dozen other people are scheduled to be put to death in 2026.

Since the U.S. Supreme Court restored the death penalty in 1976, the highest previous annual total of Florida executions was eight in 2014. Florida has executed more people than any other state this year, followed by Alabama, South Carolina and Texas with five each.

All Florida executions are conducted by lethal injection using a sedative, a paralytic and a drug that stops the heart, according to the state Department of Corrections.

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Follow David Fischer on the social platform Bluesky: ‪@dwfischer.bsky.social‬

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There is a reason why bettors adore bowl season. Each game feels like a series of riddles. How do these two teams match up? Will they be motivated for this game? Who is opting out? Who is even coaching this game?

All of that comes into question in Old Dominion vs. South Florida in Wednesday’s Cure Bowl in Orlando, Fla. 

Let’s try to sort through all the details for this contest, which features a spread of 2.5 points in favor of South Florida.

Cure Bowl: South Florida vs. Old Dominion odds, prediction

There’s no doubt over who the better team is in this matchup. Up until a loss to Navy on Nov. 15, it looked like South Florida was headed to the AAC Championship Game, and quite possibly, the College Football Playoff.

But that loss ended those hopes, and subsequently allowed head coach Alex Golesh to have his head turned by Auburn. Golesh will undoubtedly bring plenty of his best players with him to the Plains, a list that could include quarterback Byrum Brown.

Betting on College Football?

Brown has already indicated that he will opt out of the Cure Bowl, though he will serve as an assistant coach, for whatever that’s worth.

It’s hard to understate Brown’s importance to the Bulls. The 21-year-old’s statline was as impressive as just about any quarterback in the country this side of Fernando Mendoza, and he will command a whopping payday in the coming weeks as he decides whether to hit the portal or stick with USF for 2026.

The Monarchs will also be without their starting quarterback, Colton Joseph, who is entering the transfer portal after a stellar 2025 campaign. Losing Joseph’s dual-threat capabilities isn’t a good thing, but they should have a like-for-like swap with Quinn Henicle running the show.

Like Joseph, Henicle has shown he can beat you with his legs, which should keep the Monarchs in some sort of rhythm when they have the ball.

The same can’t be said of the Bulls. Going from Brown to Gaston Moore figures to be a massive dropoff, as Brown accounted for almost 4,200 yards and 42 touchdowns when you combine his passing and rushing stats.

With all the unknowns, this feels like a coin flip, so we’ll take the plus-money on Old Dominion.

The Play: Old Dominion moneyline (+128, FanDuel)

Why Trust New York Post Betting

Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV/WCJB) – Covering your license plate is now considered a second-degree misdemeanor in Florida.

The new law, which went into effect Oct. 1, sets new penalties for people who have coatings, covers or devices designed to shield their license plates from traffic cameras and toll cameras.

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles sent a memo to all law enforcement agencies on Dec. 12 to clarify the rules for license plate frames, which are a popular way for people to support their favorite sports teams, causes and alma maters.

The memo says the new law does not prohibit frames, as long as it doesn’t obscure the visibility of the “alpha numeric plate identifier” or the “decal located in the top right hand corner of the plate.”

Tallahassee Police are now weighing in on the new guidelines.

“My best advice is to remain clear and visible,” said TPD Detective Michael Carter. “If you have any concerns, any doubts, just keep it clear and visible.”

Detective Carter said the new law really aims to crack down on people who have ill intent and are trying to avoid detection by traffic cameras or toll cameras.

Carter says having an unobstructed license plate helps law enforcement solve crimes.

“Let’s say you were involved in a hit-and-run — we may potentially be able to use that plate to get a lead to get a direction to start looking,” Carter said. “But if someone is actively avoiding or putting something on their plate so it’s not readable, where it can’t be detected, that’s hurting you, that’s hurting me, that’s hurting everyone.”

TPD is one of several law enforcement agencies across the state trying to clarify the new frame rules for motorists in their area.

A social media post from the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office shared examples to help people determine if their license plate frames comply with the new rules.

The law went into effect in October and was signed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on May 19.

The second-degree misdemeanor carries a penalty of up to a $500 fine, up to 60 days in jail, or both, meaning you’d have to appear in court.

But the law itself isn’t new. It used to only be a non-criminal traffic infraction.

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