Key Takeaways:
– Two convicts, James Ford and Richard Tabler, are slated for execution in Florida and Texas.
– James Ford was incarcerated for the 1997 double homicide of Greg and Kimberly Malnory.
– Richard Tabler admitted to the 2004 murders of Mohamed Amine Rahmouni and Haitham Zayed.
– The execution of individuals who committed their crimes before turning 18 is prohibited, per a 2005 Supreme Court ruling.
– Executions have resumed in three states – Arizona, Ohio, and Tennessee, and 23 states have abolished the death penalty.
Execution on the Horizon
James Ford and Richard Tabler, deBath row convicts from Florida and Texas, are scheduled to face lethal injection on Thursday. Ford, 64, has been on death row for over 25 years. His execution is tied to the 1997 murders of Greg and Kimberly Malnory. Meanwhile, Richard Tabler, 46, awaits his fate for the 2004 slayings of a strip club owner and another individual in Texas.
Ford’s Gruesome Killings
James Ford was convicted in 1999 for the brutal killings of Greg Malnory and his wife Kimberly. Both victims were his co-workers at a sod farm in Punta Gorda, Florida. Greg was shot in the head and his throat slit, while his wife Kimberly was sexually assaulted, bludgeoned, and shot. The couple’s daughter was discovered in their pickup truck after spending 18 hours strapped in a car seat, covered with mosquito bites and her mother’s blood.
Ford was found guilty on two counts of first-degree murder, in addition to charges of rape and child abuse. His lawyers have been fighting to stop the execution, arguing that Ford, who was 36 at the time of the murders, had the mental capacity of a 14-year-old.
Tabler’s Brutal Crimes
Richard Tabler is due for execution for the 2004 killings of Mohamed Amine Rahmouni and Haitham Zayed in Killeen, Texas. Tabler confessed to these crimes, including the murders of two teenage dancers. He was, however, not tried for their deaths. Unlike Ford, Tabler has given up on his appeals against his death sentence.
Battle in the Courts
A crucial 2005 US Supreme Court decision disallows the execution of individuals who were under 18 at the time of their crimes. While this decision doesn’t directly apply to Ford, his legal team is contesting his execution on similar grounds. The Florida Supreme Court turned down these arguments last week. Nonetheless, Ford has taken his appeal to the US Supreme Court as a desperate final effort.
Capital Punishment in the US
In 2020, 25 executions were carried out in the US, and three have taken place this year. Capital punishment has been abolished in 23 states, and California, Oregon, and Pennsylvania have placed a moratorium on it. Conversely, three states, including Arizona, Ohio, and Tennessee have reintroduced executions.
President Donald Trump has consistently shown support for capital punishment. Shortly after taking office, he called for an expansion of its use for the most heinous of crimes. As these two inmates wait for their fate to be sealed, the controversy regarding the death penalty rages on in the United States.