Starke, FL – The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to halt the execution of Bryan Frederick Jennings, a 66-year-old former Marine convicted of the 1979 abduction, rape, and murder of 6-year-old Rebecca “Becky” Kunash. With the Court’s denial, Jennings is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection at 6 p.m. Thursday at Florida State Prison, marking Florida’s 16th execution of the year, a modern state record.
The Incident: Child Taken Through Bedroom Window and Murdered
The crime occurred on the night of May 10, 1979, when Becky Kunash, a 6-year-old Brevard County girl, was asleep in her bedroom. Her father checked on her around 11 p.m., telling her:
“I love you. Catch ya in the morning.”
According to court records, Jennings removed the screen from Becky’s unlocked bedroom window, abducted her, and carried her to his car. He then drove the child to a nearby canal, where he sexually assaulted her, slammed her head into the ground, fracturing her skull, and held her underwater for nearly ten minutes, drowning her.
Her parents discovered she was missing around 7 a.m., finding her curtain blowing through the still-open window.
Becky’s body was found later the same day by a fisherman along the Banana River, roughly half a mile from the Kunash home.
Investigation and Evidence: A Strong Case Against Jennings
Investigators quickly linked Jennings to the crime. Evidence included:
- Fingerprints on the child’s bedroom windowsill
- Shoe prints near the home matching Jennings’ footwear
- Jennings’ wet clothing and hair at the time of his arrest
- A confession given to detectives later that same day
Jennings told investigators he had been drinking the night of the crime and admitted he liked “looking into windows.”
“I don’t know why I did it,” he later told investigators. “It’s just something I did.”
He was arrested initially on a traffic warrant, while authorities were actively searching for Becky.
Court Proceedings and Legal Battles
Jennings was tried three separate times for the murder. He was convicted and sentenced to death twice, but each conviction was overturned on appeal. His third trial in 1986 resulted in the final death sentence that has remained for nearly four decades.
On Nov. 7, Jennings filed an eleventh-hour petition with the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing that he had been denied continuous legal representation for more than three years during post-conviction proceedings. His attorneys said the gap violated:
- Due process rights
- Meaningful access to the courts
- Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments
However, the Supreme Court issued a short, definitive order:
“The application for stay of execution is denied.”
“The petition for a writ of certiorari is denied.”
Statements, Reactions, and Impact on the Family
The Kunash family suffered for years through repeated trials. The emotional toll ultimately broke the family apart, resulting in the parents’ divorce.
Becky’s father, Robert Kunash, who died in 2001, said during one trial:
“I’ve killed him a million times in my sleep.”
The girl’s mother moved back to Cleveland with her older daughter during the prolonged legal battle.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis defended the record number of executions carried out under his administration.
“Some of these crimes were committed in the ’80s. Justice delayed is justice denied.”
Background Context: Florida’s Death Penalty Landscape
Florida has seen a surge in executions this year, with Jennings set to become the 16th person executed in 2025, the highest number in decades. Legal experts note that the case reflects one of the longest unresolved death penalty paths in modern Florida history.
Jennings, who once described himself as a “mad dog”, committed the murder while on leave from the Marines and staying with relatives on Merritt Island.
Ongoing Developments and What Comes Next
With the Supreme Court declining to intervene, Jennings’ execution is set to proceed at 6 p.m. Thursday. Florida officials say the state intends to continue enforcing capital punishment aggressively, especially in longstanding cases involving child victims.
As the execution approaches, Becky’s family is left with a decades-long emotional wound and the memory of a child whose life was violently stolen.
What are your thoughts on this case and the Supreme Court’s decision? Share your opinions in the comments below.
