John Arthur Spenkelink

What happened

Spenkelink admitted the killing at trial but said he acted in self-defense. The jury convicted him of murder and he was sentenced to death on December 20, 1973. His appeals reached the U.S. Supreme Court four times and were rejected, and clemency was denied after an April 1979 hearing. Governor Bob Graham signed a death warrant on May 18, 1979. Two last-minute stays were lifted, the Supreme Court refused a final appeal on the morning of May 25, and he was executed that day at Florida State Prison. He was the first person executed against his will in the United States since 1967.

Timeline

1. 1973-02-03 Offense in Tallahassee (Leon County)
2. 1973-12-20 Sentenced to death
3. 1979-04 Clemency board hearing; clemency denied
4. 1979-05-18 Governor Bob Graham signs the death warrant
5. 1979-05-25 Executed at Florida State Prison

In memory

Joe Szymankiewicz, 43. Named by TIME.

Source

Source: Florida Department of Corrections

References

1. Execution List: 1976 - present · Florida Department of Corrections
2. Nation: At Issue: Crime and Punishment (June 1979) · TIME
3. Florida State Prison (institution page, address and coordinates) · Florida Department of Corrections

Content hash (SHA-256): 7a919ddcae68da4ea5a2a9fc0927a4d0e42441e34ce8a668e94b64d88b25e26a

not yet anchored

Related links

• DPIC Execution Database

Related records

United States records

• Gary Mark Gilmore
• Romell Broom