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FLORIDA - Florida leads the U.S. in executions in 2025, including the recent execution of Edward Zakrzewski.
The most recent execution involved 60-year-old Edward Zakrzewski, who was put to death by lethal injection at a state prison.
Zakrzewski, convicted of violent crimes, expressed gratitude to the state for what he described as a “cold, calculated, clean, humane, efficient” execution process.
Under Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida has led the nation with nine executions in 2025, setting a new state record for executions in a single year.
This follows a broader national rise in executions, with the U.S. surpassing 2024’s total in the first seven months of 2025.
Experts predict that the U.S. may exceed 2015’s total of 28 executions by the end of this year, with nine more executions already scheduled across seven states.
While the number of executions has decreased nationally in recent years, mainly due to legal hurdles and public opposition, Florida has seen an uptick in executions under DeSantis.
The governor has stated that some crimes are so severe that the death penalty is the only fitting punishment, providing closure to victims' families.
However, critics argue that the decision-making process for executions is secretive and arbitrary, with some calling for a reevaluation of Florida's approach to capital punishment.