TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — In a significant development, a death warrant has been issued for Michael Tanzi, a 48-year-old man found guilty of kidnapping and murdering a woman in Miami back in 2000. This decision was made by Governor Ron DeSantis on Monday, marking a critical step toward Tanzi’s scheduled execution, set for April 8 at the Florida State Prison.
The tragic incident unfolded when Tanzi attacked Janet Acosta while she was seated in her parked van. According to court records, he threatened her with a razor blade before binding and gagging her. He then made his way toward the Florida Keys, using her van as a means to escape. During this harrowing ordeal, Tanzi sexually assaulted Acosta and exploited her financial resources by withdrawing money from bank ATMs using her card.
Eventually, Tanzi drove the van to a secluded location in Cudjoe Key, where he strangled Acosta and left her lifeless body. After committing the murder, he proceeded to Key West to meet with friends. Meanwhile, Acosta’s disappearance did not go unnoticed, as her concerned friends reported her missing. Law enforcement was able to identify her van and successfully tracked down and arrested Tanzi.
Should the execution proceed as planned, it would mark the third time this year that Florida has carried out the death penalty. Earlier, in February, James Dennis Ford was executed for the 1997 murder of a couple in Charlotte County. The state has also scheduled the execution of Edward James on March 20 for his heinous crimes, including the murder of a woman and the rape and murder of her 8-year-old granddaughter in Seminole County in 1993.
