David Pittman, 63, is set to be executed on September 17, after being convicted of brutally murdering his estranged wife’s sister and her parents in 1990
A Florida man, who horrifically killed his estranged wife’s sister and parents before setting their home on fire, is due to be executed under a death warrant signed by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis. This marks the record-breaking 12th execution scheduled in the state this year.
David Pittman, 63, is set to face the death penalty on September 17. The warrant was signed by DeSantis on Friday, while two other men, Kayle Bates and Curtis Windom, are also on death row awaiting their executions later this month.
The previous record for annual executions in recent Florida history was eight in 2014, since the reinstatement of the death penalty in 1976 by the U.S. Supreme Court.
So far this year, Florida has executed nine people, outstripping any other state, with Texas and South Carolina tied for second place with four each.
Across the U.S., there have been a total of 28 executions in 2025, already exceeding last year’s tally of 25. This equals the count from 2015, when 28 individuals were also executed.
Pittman was found guilty and sentenced to death in 1991 for three counts of first-degree murder, according to court records. The jury also convicted him of arson and grand theft, reports the Mirror US.
In May 1990, during a divorce from his wife Marie, Pittman visited the Polk County home of her parents, Clarence and Barbara Knowles. Authorities report that Pittman fatally stabbed the couple and their younger daughter, Bonnie.
He subsequently set the house ablaze and stole Bonnie Knowles’ car, which he also torched. A bystander identified Pittman as the person fleeing from the burning vehicle.
A prison informant also testified, alleging that Pittman admitted to the killings. The Florida Supreme Court has already scheduled a date to hear an appeal.
It is anticipated that an appeal will also be submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Florida tops the list for the highest number of death row exonerations in the country, with 30 inmates released following wrongful convictions, underscoring concerns about the system’s dependability.
At present, approximately 266 to 278 convicts are on death row in the state, ranking it second only to California. In recent years, legislators have significantly eased the path to execution.
A law enacted in 2023 now permits a death sentence if just 8 out of 12 jurors concur, down from a previous requirement for unanimous agreement, setting a remarkably low standard nationwide. Meanwhile, the Florida Legislature has broadened the death penalty to cover new categories of crimes, including child rape and cases involving individuals such as heads of state, or crimes committed during school or religious gatherings.
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