Full Breakdown
Florida Executes Inmate Who Murdered Cellmate to Secure Death Row
By Drooid · · How we work
Execution of James Robertson
On Oct. 13, 2026 (scheduled), the Florida Department of Corrections carried out a lethal-injection execution of James Robertson, 63, at Florida State Prison near Starke. Robertson had pleaded guilty to first-degree murder for strangling his cellmate, Frank Hart, in December 2008 and had waived all state and federal appeals. The execution was completed without incident, and he was pronounced dead at 12:32 p.m.
Background and Context
Robertson entered prison at 17 after burglary and assault convictions. On Dec. 10, 2008, he fashioned a garrote from tied socks and killed Hart, who was scheduled for release on Dec. 18, 2008. Robertson told investigators the murder was “unprovoked” and motivated solely by a desire to be sentenced to death, believing death-row conditions would be preferable to life in close-management custody. He later testified, “I killed my cellmate because I wanted the better jailhouse conditions on death row.” The state sentenced him to death on Dec. 18, 2012 after he waived a jury penalty phase and later withdrew all post-conviction appeals.
Timeline
- Oct. 5 – Charlotte County circuit court accepted his request to withdraw all appeals.
- Oct. 13, 2026 – Execution carried out at Florida State Prison.
- Oct. 20 – William Reaves, 77, slated for execution.
- Nov. 5 – Jesse Guardado, 64, slated for execution.
Data and Statistics
- Robertson’s execution was Florida’s 17th in 2026.
- Florida carried out 19 executions in 2025, the highest annual total for any governor since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976.
- Nationwide, 47 people were executed in 2025; Florida accounted for more than half of the 31 executions recorded so far in 2026.
- Florida’s protocol uses a three-drug cocktail: a sedative, a paralytic, and potassium acetate to stop the heart.
Official Statements & Responses
Governor Ron DeSantis, who signed Robertson’s death warrant, has argued that the death penalty provides “closure” for victims’ families and said he would not proceed if he believed the inmate were innocent.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Florida has a sound lethal injection process and protocol,” — Jordan Kirkland, corrections spokesperson
- “What I can say is we have a sound lethal injection process here in Florida, and we always carry it out in a humane and dignified manner,” — Jordan Kirkland, corrections spokesperson
- “I killed my cellmate because I wanted the better jailhouse conditions on death row,” — James Robertson
What’s Next
Florida has two additional executions scheduled for Oct. 20 and Nov. 5. Governor DeSantis has withdrawn the death warrant for William Lee Thompson, 74, pending a psychiatric evaluation; the inmate remains on death row, and a new warrant could be issued later. The state’s execution pace continues to draw national attention amid ongoing debates over the death penalty’s efficacy and humanitarian impact.