Florida Governor Rick Scott today ordered the execution of Jose Antonio Jimenez, who has been on death row for the knife-murder of Phyllis Minas in 1992 for the past 16 years.
Jiménez, 54, was also found guilty in 1994, while already in prison, of the murder and robbery of another woman, Marie Debas, in 1990.
Scott set the date of execution with lethal injection for next August 14.
The Hispanic hit and stabbed Minas several times after being caught stealing in his home, in October 1992, and then fled across the balcony after feeling the presence of neighbors who came to the cries of the victim.
Minas, 63, died after eight stab wounds and Jiménez was arrested days later thanks to fingerprints left in the victim’s apartment.
Last February Florida authorities executed Eric Branch, 47, for the rape and murder of a college student in 1993.
Since 1976, 96 inmates have been executed in the state, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.
Currently, 347 people await execution on the death row by lethal injection, according to the same source.
