A Florida man, Edward James, has been condemned to die for the brutal murder of a woman and her 8-year-old granddaughter in Seminole County back in 1993.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis approved the death warrant for the 63-year-old on Tuesday, scheduling his execution for March 20 at Florida State Prison.
The horrific crimes occurred on September 19, 1993, when James attacked young Toni Neuner in her grandmother Betty Dick’s home. At the time, James was renting a room in Dick’s house.
Court documents indicate that James first strangled Neuner before proceeding to sexually assault her, subsequently throwing her lifeless body across the room. The eight-year-old experienced severe internal injuries and died from strangulation.
Following that, James moved into the bedroom of her grandmother, Betty Dick, with the intention of assaulting her as well. However, he ended up stabbing her more than 20 times with two different knives.
James admitted his guilt regarding the murders, in addition to charges of child abuse and kidnapping, though he said he could not recall details related to other charges and entered a no contest plea for those.
If carried out, his execution will be the second in Florida this year. Earlier, James Dennis Ford was executed for the homicide of a couple in Charlotte County in 1997.
