Tallahassee, FL – A 66-year-old Florida man, Bryan Fredrick Jennings, is set to be executed on November 13 for the rape and murder of 6-year-old Rebecca Kunash in 1979. The death warrant, signed by Governor Ron DeSantis, marks yet another step in what has become a record-setting year for executions in Florida.
DeSantis Continues Record Pace for Executions
Governor Ron DeSantis has now scheduled 16 executions in 2025, the highest number for any Florida governor in a single year since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. The governor’s office confirmed that Jennings will be executed by lethal injection at Florida State Prison, joining two other death row inmates — Samuel Lee Smithers and Norman Mearle Grim Jr. — whose executions are also set for October.
The decision comes amid growing debate over the pace of capital punishment under DeSantis, with Florida leading all U.S. states in executions for 2025. National data shows 35 executions nationwide so far this year, with Florida accounting for nearly half.
Crime That Shocked Florida Communities
According to court documents, Jennings abducted Rebecca Kunash in May 1979 after climbing through the window of a Brevard County home. Investigators said he drove the child to a canal near Merritt Island, where he sexually assaulted her, smashed her head against the ground, and drowned her.
“It was one of the most horrific crimes Brevard County had ever seen,” investigators said in earlier reports.
Authorities linked Jennings to the crime shortly after his arrest on a traffic warrant, eventually charging him with murder, kidnapping, and sexual battery. He was first sentenced to death in 1986 after two earlier convictions were overturned.
Multiple Appeals and Legal Battles
Jennings’ case has seen decades of appeals and retrials, with his attorneys repeatedly arguing procedural errors and ineffective counsel. Despite those efforts, his conviction and death sentence were upheld in subsequent rulings.
Legal experts say Jennings’ attorneys are expected to file emergency appeals with both the Florida Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court in an effort to stay the execution.
Florida’s Death Penalty Record in 2025
Governor DeSantis’ aggressive signing of death warrants has put Florida at the forefront of capital punishment in the United States. The previous state record for executions in one year was eight, last reached in 2014.
The most recent execution took place on September 30, when Victory Tony Jones was put to death for the 1990 double murder of a South Florida couple during a robbery.
Critics argue that the governor’s pace politicizes the justice system, while supporters say it demonstrates his commitment to law and order.
Broader Context: Capital Punishment Debate
The renewed use of the death penalty in Florida reflects a national divide over capital punishment. Some states, such as California and Oregon, have paused executions, while others, including Texas and Oklahoma, continue to apply it regularly.
Advocacy groups continue to challenge the system, citing racial disparities, wrongful convictions, and the ethical implications of state-sanctioned death. However, polls indicate that a majority of Floridians still support the death penalty, especially in cases involving children or multiple victims.
What Happens Next
Unless a stay is granted, Jennings’ execution will take place on November 13 at 6 p.m. inside Florida State Prison in Raiford. His attorneys are expected to file final motions in the coming weeks.
With multiple executions already scheduled, Florida’s Department of Corrections is preparing for one of the busiest death penalty years in decades.
What are your thoughts on Florida’s rising number of executions this year? Share your opinions in the comments below.
