Man was executed this week after more than 25 years on death row. Here was his crime

James Dennis Ford, 64, died by a three-drug lethal injection at 6:19 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, at Florida State Prison in Raiford, Fla., state officials said, according to the Associated Press, USA Today and local news station WWSB.

Moments before his execution, Ford declined to speak any last words, but his final written statement read, “Hugs Prayers Love!!! God Bless everyone,” per the outlet. His final appeal was denied by the U.S. Supreme court on Wednesday, Feb 12, the AP reports. His attorneys had previously put forth claims that Ford had an intellectually disability and therefore should not receive the death penalty.

Ford had been on death row for more than 25 years following the April 1997 murders of 25-year-old Gregory Malnory and 26-year-old Kimberly Malnory, who were on a fishing trip at a remote farm in southwest Florida with their 22-month-old daughter when they were killed, WWSB reports, citing authorities.

Authorities said Ford first attacked Gregory, shooting him with a rifle, beating him and slitting his throat. Ford then raped and beat Kimberly before fatally shooting her. The pair’s daughter witnessed the attack while seated in the backseat of the couple’s truck, according to court records cited by USA Today.

About 18 hours later, the toddler was found by farm workers still strapped in the car and covered in blood and bug bites. Authorities also said the girl was dehydrated, per USA Today.

Court records cited by the AP state Ford initially told investigators that the couple were alive the last time he saw them, but he was eventually linked to the crime scene through DNA and his rifle was found in a nearby ditch. A motive remained unclear.

The couple’s daughter, Maranda Malnory, recently spoke with WBBH, saying she has no recollection of the murders and only learned how her parents died when she was 13.

“Technically, my worst enemy is the person who did this,” she told the outlet. “But I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy.”

While Maranda wasn’t present for the execution, her paternal grandmother, Connie Ankney, was. Speaking to reporters, she said, “I hope he burns in hell,” per USA Today.

According to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Gregory’s co-worker remembered him as an “all-American good ol’ boy,” who “loved to hunt and fish.” As for Kimberly, she was described by her stepmother as someone who had a “vivacious, bubbly, talkative personality,” USA Today reports.

Ford’s execution marked the first in Florida in 2025 and the fourth in the U.S., according to the Death Penalty Information Center.