TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A man from Florida, who was found guilty of the murder of a woman and the rape and killing of her 8-year-old granddaughter in Seminole County back in 1993, is scheduled to face execution next month.
Governor Ron DeSantis signed the death warrant for 63-year-old Edward James on Tuesday. The execution is slated to take place on March 20 at the Florida State Prison.
The crimes occurred on September 19, 1993, when James viciously attacked young Toni Neuner, who was visiting her grandmother, Betty Dick. At the time, James was renting a room in the Dick home.
Court documents reveal that James strangled Neuner before sexually assaulting her both vaginally and anally, subsequently discarding her lifeless body across the room. Tragically, the young girl sustained severe internal injuries and was ultimately strangled to death.
Following this horrific act, James proceeded to the bedroom of Toni’s grandmother, apparently intending to assault her as well. Instead, he inflicted over 20 stab wounds on the 58-year-old woman using two different knives, according to court records.
James confessed to the murders and also admitted to charges of child abuse and kidnapping. In addition, he entered a no-contest plea to other charges that he claimed were hazy in his memory.
This execution will mark the second in Florida for the year. Earlier this month, another man, James Dennis Ford, was executed for the 1997 murder of a couple in Charlotte County.
