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In a somber turn of events, Richard Knight, a Florida man found guilty of the brutal murders of his cousin’s girlfriend and their young child, met his fate on Thursday evening. This marked the seventh execution carried out by the state this year.
Knight, aged 47, was pronounced dead at 6:13 p.m. following the administration of a lethal three-drug combination at the Florida State Prison located near Starke. His conviction stemmed from the tragic deaths of Odessia Stephens and her 4-year-old daughter, Hanessia Mullings, in June 2002. The crime left an indelible mark of grief and loss.
At the scheduled time of 6 p.m., the execution chamber’s curtain was drawn back to reveal Knight, securely restrained with his arms extended, ready to receive the lethal injection. When prompted by the warden for any final words, Knight expressed gratitude to “Yahweh, who is the most high,” before the execution commenced.
As the drugs took effect, Knight’s eyes closed, and he remained largely still. Within approximately 10 minutes, a medical professional confirmed the end of his life.
This execution is part of a larger narrative in Florida, where the number of executions has been notably high. In 2025, under the leadership of Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, the state witnessed a record 19 executions — the most by any Florida governor in a single year since the death penalty’s reinstatement in 1976. Prior to this, the highest number was eight, recorded in 2014. Nationwide, the total number of executions in 2025 reached 47, reflecting a significant use of capital punishment in the United States.
According to court records, Knight had been living in Coral Springs, near Fort Lauderdale, with his cousin, his cousin’s girlfriend and their daughter in 2000. Knight and Stephens frequently argued about Knight living there. One evening while Knight’s cousin was at work, Stephens told Knight he would have to move out the next morning. Knight became angry and stabbed Stephens multiple times and then attacked the young girl, the records show.
Hans Mullings, who was Stephen’s boyfriend and the father of the 4-year-old, told reporters after witnessing Thursday’s execution that his family still grieves the loss.
“The pain never leaves,” Mullings said. “We love them still, and we can’t stop loving them. We miss them a lot.”
Stephen’s sisters and mother didn’t attend the execution, but provided a statement expressing closure.
“Words cannot express the profound sense of peace and finality we feel today,” it said. “While this does not fill the empty space in our hearts, the closing of this long, painful chapter allows us to fully focus on honoring the beautiful lives of Odessia and Hanessia.”
“Richard, may our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ grant you the mercy you failed to give our loved ones whom you so brutally took from us that night,” the statement added.
On Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected Knight’s final appeal without comment.
That came shortly after the planned execution of a Tennessee inmate, Tony Carruthers, was called off. Tennessee officials said a team quickly established Carruthers’ main IV line for a lethal injection but couldn’t find a suitable vein for a backup line required under the state’s execution protocol. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee later announced the state would not try again for at least a year to execute Carruthers, who was convicted of killing three people.
Also this week, an Arizona prisoner convicted of killing another man by throwing gasoline at him and lighting a match was put to death Wednesday. Leroy Dean McGill, 63, received a lethal injection at the Arizona State Prison Complex in Florence for the death of Charles Perez, who was attacked at a north Phoenix apartment in 2002.
Florida, meanwhile, is preparing to conduct another execution on June 2. Andrew Richard Lukehart, 53, was convicted of fatally beating of his girlfriend’s infant daughter in 1996. All Florida executions are by lethal injection of a sedative, a paralytic and a drug that stops the heart, officials say.